Stressed? Here’s 5 ways to regulate your nervous system.

photo by thatguycraig

Stress support: Acupuncture and Chinese medicine

Stress is a huge factor in recovering from chronic illness and chronic pain. From a chinese medicine perspective it’s one of the major causes of disease, and impacts on the whole mind-body’s capacity to maintain health and balance.

Whether you have a chronic condition, or simply want to improve your general health and wellbeing, here’s 5 simple ways to regulate your nervous system on a daily basis.

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How to regulate your nervous system

⁠1. Breathe. In through the nose, out through the nose. Feel you breath all the way down to the belly, and all the way back out. Do this for just one minute. Just one minute. Then do it for five. You'll feel a million bucks. Do it all day and you won't need a million bucks. You'll feel so relaxed you'll sell all your possessions and just sit down and breathe all day. It's that good.⁠
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2. Do nothing: yep. How good's that? Just sit down on a chair, the grass, the couch and just do nothing. Take the time out and breathe and observe your breath and the world around you. If you find this challenging go for a walk in the bush or do some gardening instead.
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3. Exercise: even better breathe mindfully while you exercise. Exercise not only helps with circulation, but naturally releases feel good hormones such as endorphins. The better your feel in your body, the more like you are to process stress and emotions, and make healthy choices.
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4. Practice mindfulness: mindfulness is about becoming aware of our senses, thoughts and emotions in a non-judgmental and accepting way. Turns out not judging yourself for everything you experience is like a warm hug for your nervous system, all the time. ⁠Even better, mindfulness can help with neuroplasticity-your body’s capacity to form new neural pathways-breaking stress and pain cycles with time and practice.
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5. Limit screen time. Technology is an ever present part of this world. Use technology, but don’t let it use you. It can interfere with the body’s release of hormones like melatonin that assist with the body’s circadian rhythm and capacity to fall asleep.