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1248: Anxiety, Stress And The Vagus Nerve: Small Things That Help You Feel Safe Again

  1. 1248: Anxiety, Stress And The Vagus Nerve: Small Things That Help You Feel Safe Again Gina Ryan 22:23

In today’s episode, Gina shares some key tips to help you strengthen your vagus nerve to help you feel safer and more stable. A description of how the vagus nerve connects the brain and body is included, as is how it can influence a range of anxiety related symptoms, including Sleep and digestive problems. A number of ways you can strengthen your vagus nerve are also included. Helping signal to your brain that you are safe can go a long way to restoring your sense of peace and balance.

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Free Guided Meditation for Calming Your Anxious Mind 10-Minute Body-Scan Meditation for Anxiety

Quote:

Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky. Conscious breathing is my anchor.

-Thich Nhat Hanh

Chapters

0:26 Vagus Nerve Basics

7:13 Breathing for Calm

9:59 Sound and Laughter

12:44 Meditation and Resilience

14:17 Gentle Movement Matters

15:37 Connection Heals

17:43 Small Reset Practices

19:25 Trusting the Anxious Body

20:59 Closing Thoughts

Summary

In this episode we talk about the vagus nerve and its role in anxiety recovery and nervous system healing. We explain that supporting the vagus nerve can help the body feel safer, which can also help the mind settle.

We describe the vagus nerve as part of the parasympathetic nervous system, traveling through the brain and body and connecting with the heart, lungs, digestion, vocal cords, face, and ears. We also explain that communication goes both ways between body and brain, so body tension, shallow breathing, fatigue, or overstimulation can affect how we feel mentally.

We review common anxiety-related symptoms that may be linked with nervous system dysregulation, including digestive issues, nausea, brain fog, sleep problems, heart palpitations, chronic tension, hypervigilance, panic symptoms, and feelings of disconnection. We also note that anxiety is complex and that understanding the body can reduce fear and self-blame.

#anxiety #anxietyrecovery #nervoussystemregulation #vagusnerve #vagaltone #parasympathetic #mentalhealth #emotionalregulation #stressmanagement #somatichealing #mindfulness #breathwork #diaphragmaticbreathing #longexhales #wellness #emotionalwellbeing #somaticexperiencing #hrv #resilience #socialconnection #laughtertherapy #gentlemovement #grounding #vagusnervestimulation #humming #gutbrainaxis #Gina Ryan #AnxietyCoachesPodcast #ACP

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Gina Ryan is the producer and host of the top 50 Mental Health shows on Apple Podcast -The Anxiety Coaches Podcast. Gina is a Nutritionist and coach who, in 1993, opened New Health Natural Products in NY and also struggled with stress, anxiety, and panic for over 20 years.

Before the internet, she was able to climb out of her fear and panic to peace, calm, and well-being by finding what did and did not work. She now teaches thousands of others how to do the same in a fraction of the time.

After moving to Maui in 2005, Gina spent 12 years as a nutritionist/consultant for the Intensive Outpatient Eating Disorder Center and, the only Residential ED Facility in Hawai'i. She shared her compassion, along with her knowledge and wisdom of the mind-body-spirit connection, helping clients clear their food-related anxiety, obsessions, and compulsions.

Gina is dedicated full-time to anxiety-clearing, coaching, writing, and teaching clients worldwide. She considers her work her calling and lives a mindful and compassionate life.