What does a DISREGULATED NERVOUS SYSTEM look like and what can you do about it?

AND Breathe…..

I am not going to lie the last seven months have been a wild ride, not in a fun way and I love a bit of wild normally. There has been so much that came my way in one go, it threw me into a state of overwhelm. This is a reminder that yoga teachers are human too and experience all the messiness that life can bring. The difference is as we start to get older, wiser, more experienced, we say ‘oh hello here we go again’ . We can navigate what comes from experience, from the resilience we have stored up already from our life events. Personally when the storms come it is then that I really dig into my practices, morning rituals, asana, journaling and I surround myself with glorious souls who make sense and ground me. I am so fortunate to have a plethora of emotionally intelligent , grounded super humans as friends who scoop me up when I fall. I like to think of these people as my safety net - being safe is a huge concept when it comes to any relationship, trust and love. If you have these souls in your life treasure them and if they can make you laugh in the midst of the angst even better - keep them for life!

I always know when life is coming on top a bit, don’t get me wrong I have a wonderful personal barometer and my question to myself is ‘Clare is it as bad as one of the worse days you had policing??’ The answer is always a resounding no, for that I will always be grateful for my time in the Met has helped me emotionally and mentally frame the rest of my life. I was one of the lucky ones who got out early without severe PTSD. Still doesn’t mean I escape the tough times now though.

The first things that disappear for me when the pace picks up is patience, the way I communicate , short, snappy, royaly cheesed off . I have no time to write or any creativity which keeps me grounded, my diet and sleep go out the window and if my classes are getting covered well that’s usually a sign I am up to something. Luckily for me my good friend and therapist VIDHI came to stay for a week, this man is a legend at keeping you present and discouraging the overthinking and spirals. You know you have had an interesting life when most of your mates are coaches and therapists, the chats are deep but so are the belly laughs. As a hyper independant female yes i am the person who will try and carry all eight supermarket bags to the car in one go, I am not always the best at asking for help, pretty good at going inward and cutting myself off was my old behaviour. Fortunately when your tribe are trained professionals there is no hiding place - damn it! Full vulnerability is shared and held, even though this is still a place of huge discomfort for me, I know my support network is colossal to be honest- even down to the new connections I have made on the therapist course i am on at the MINDED INSTITUTE. People who have navigated trauma or other huge life events and have done ‘the work’ and continue to do it and some of the most real humans I have met and it is hard not to feel and instant infinity - they say you can’t talk butterfly language with caterpillars - I love this phrase.

Anyway I am here to announce that I am back to feeling more grounded - so what did I do to regain the balance, surrounded myself with good people, maybe you might feel you don’t have any, I used to feel that way too - until i started yoga - there is a different vibe with that tribe and it is easy to make loving and caring connections - that is why i am so passionate about creating a yoga community. In a society that works we are suppose to care about each other end of. Hopefully are creating a space where if you need to talk you can, if you just need to be and stop for a bit you can do that too.

To restore my balance I make myself get up earlier , or at least the spaniels play a part in that too, i get on my mat it is non negotiable to find time to practice I also mediate a lot ! It is easy to play something off of you tube as you fall asleep or first thing in the morning when the mind is at its busiest - these can be really short- bare minimum practices as my lovely friend The completion coach would tell us.

The biggest and most important thing that keeps me afloat in challenging times is walking my dogs, in the evening , a stroll along the beach bare feet and no phone - this is a life saver for me every time. Sometime I journal out loud - in other words I talk to myself - apparently it is a sign of high emotional intelligence although I am well aware there may be other notions of a dog lady wandering the beach bare feet, banging her gums but hey it works for me. My best ideas, inspiration and just sorting my mental jumble comes from these walks and it energetically shifts up your energy, moves anything stagnant sat in the body - sometimes if i am feeling really lively we will have a lovely barefoot SPRINT along the sand , the dogs always win , just a little blast feels fabulous.

so I guess these are my personal coping mechanisms. It will be different for everyone - if you are struggling ask yourself was brings me joy and bliss in my life and then make time just a little time to do those things- it is imperative to avoid , stress and burnout as we all know ploughing through does not work.

There has also been a planetary event - Mercury retrograde so lets blame a bit on that too shall we , Anyway I intend to realign with peace, a slower pace, more time for me and some great travel - could be worse.

Below I have added a little scientific fact about the nervous system and how when is it disreruglated it may manifest in the body - please know that the practices we teach will help and if you ever need to talk more about any of this - well it is one of my favourite chats - we just may be there for a while thats all ! As a yoga community it is important that we continue to work towards creating a safe community space where in times of need or vulnerability you can come and speak I am always open for a chat. if we can help or suggest anything we will try our best , we also have great links to professional services if that is needed. you will be amazed what a yoga practice can shift - it is actually quite magical. She says unashamedly in her full feral wild witchy woo era - why not hey!

Anyway here is the science - if you are interested??

Have a lovely day and keep your eyes peeled for our newsletter coming out today announcing our opening event for i am the storm sauna in the paddock at the mill over friday saturday and sunday next weekend.

Thanks for reading and for your ongoing support we could not do what we do without you

clare x

science- y bit below !

A dysregulated nervous system means the body's stress response system is not functioning properly, resulting in an imbalance between the sympathetic (fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) nervous systems. This can lead to a variety of physical and emotional symptoms, as the body struggles to respond appropriately to stress and maintain balance. 

Here's a more detailed explanation:

What is the nervous system?

The nervous system is a complex network of nerves and cells that transmit signals between different parts of the body, regulating various bodily functions like sensory perception, movement, and emotional responses. It has two main divisions: the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral nervous system, which includes the autonomic nervous system. 

What is the autonomic nervous system?

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls involuntary functions like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and the stress response. It has two branches: the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. 

• Sympathetic Nervous System:

  This is the "fight-or-flight" system, which activates in response to stress, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

• Parasympathetic Nervous System:

  This is the "rest-and-digest" system, which promotes relaxation, slows heart rate, and helps the body recover from stress.

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What does dysregulation mean?

A dysregulated nervous system is essentially an imbalance between these two systems. It means the body's stress response system is either overactive (constantly in a state of alert) or underactive (not responding effectively to stress). 

Symptoms of a dysregulated nervous system can include:

• Emotional: Anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, difficulty concentrating, mood swings, depression, feeling overwhelmed. 

• Physical: Chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, digestive issues, muscle tension, headaches, pain, changes in appetite. 

• Cognitive: Brain fog, difficulty making decisions, memory problems, racing thoughts. 

  
  

Causes of nervous system dysregulation can include:

• Early life trauma: Abuse, neglect, or other adverse childhood experiences. 

• Chronic stress: Ongoing stressful situations at home, work, or school. 

• Traumatic events: Accidents, natural disasters, or other events that cause intense fear or stress. 

• Medical conditions: Certain illnesses can impact the nervous system. 

• Lifestyle factors: Poor sleep, unhealthy diet, lack of exercise. 

In essence, a dysregulated nervous system is a state of imbalance in the body's stress response system, which can lead to a variety of physical and emotional problems. It is important to seek professional help if you are experiencing symptoms of nervous system dysregulation to identify the underlying causes and develop strategies for rebalancing the nervous system. 

Life is a lot please know you are not alone and we are always here to listen and guide you back to bliss and joy where we can.

Thanks

Clare x