Parts, Self, And The Nervous System Intro

Nervous system balance or imbalance can be a large part of neurodivergent life. Providing context for the short meditation of the same name, this introductory talk explores the idea that parts may be protecting the nervous system. It also considers that the state of the nervous system can affect both parts and Self, inspired by Sarah Bergenfield's work. This talk was developed in collaboration with Emma Goldman-Sherman. Music composed by Narek Mirzaei (Music Of Wisdom). Photo by Saffu.

Transcript

Neurodivergent people often have high levels of anxiety and depression. From a parts perspective, We can understand anxiety and depression as extreme strategies used by parts to protect us. While these parts may use these strategies to protect even more vulnerable parts, They may also be trying to protect our nervous systems, As our nervous systems tend to be more sensitive and more easily tipped over into imbalance just by living everyday life. Autistic IFS practitioner Sarah Burgenfield has suggested that we can see the nervous system as a body of water in which self and parts are floating. You might be able to imagine that your self and parts are floating in a boat on this body of water that is the nervous system. A more regulated nervous system is like a calm pond and is easier to navigate. At other times, The nervous system may be a stormy sea and self is struggling right alongside the parts to navigate. There is fight, Flight, Hypervigilance, Frenetic activity, Anxiety. At other times, The boat is frozen in place. There is exhaustion, Overwhelm, Depression. The question is, How can we spend more time on the calm pond than on the stormy seas or in the frozen pond? Is there a way for self and parts to collaborate to ensure that their boat is more often in calm waters? Can there be greater collaboration between self and parts even when the water gets choppy or frozen so that parts don't feel like they have to carry all of the work by themselves?