So what is a regulated nervous system?
The thing that most people get wrong about the idea of a regulated nervous system is that a regulated nervous system is a nervous system that's always in a state of calm.
And that's not true.
A regulated nervous system means you have a flexible nervous system.
So I want you to think about this hair tie as being an unregulated or a dysregulated nervous system,
Where this one is a regulated nervous system.
Stay with me.
So a dysregulated nervous system is a nervous system that has been stretched so many times that it is stuck in one position.
It is stuck in that stretched out position where a regulated nervous system is one that can stretch and then return to baseline.
Stretch and return to baseline.
And so if we are constantly stretch,
Stretch,
Stretch,
Going into that fight or flight,
Things are happening in our life.
We're seeing something distressing on the news.
Our kids are having a hard time.
Getting out of the house,
We're having a stressful time at work,
We're not getting enough sleep,
Wherever it is,
Whatever it is,
If we're constantly stretching,
Always going into that fight or flight,
We're gonna get stuck in that position.
Where a regulated nervous system is able to have moments of dysregulation,
To get stretched out,
But then return to baseline.
So to have a stressful day at work,
To get stretched,
And then come back to a place where you're more neutral.
Maybe it's a more calm space,
But maybe it's just a place that's just not dysregulated not activated,
Not anxious,
Not in a state of fight or flight.
And so when you think about a regulated nervous system,
I want you to think about these two things.
And so if you want to get out of this stuck state and more into a regulated,
Flexible nervous system state,
The things that you're going to do to really support this is to one,
Become aware of this concept and to not make it so challenging for yourself by thinking that if you're regulated,
That means that you're always calm.
That's not what it is.
Stuck position,
But in more of that rest or digest.
We do need moments of what they call arousal or hyper arousal.
That is if you're going to go on a hike and a bear crosses your path,
You want your body to be able to adapt and say,
Oh my gosh,
There's a bear there.
I need to stretch and get into that fight or flight and then be able to come back to neutral,
Maybe slowly because that bear is somewhat intense.
And so I want you to think about this and remember that a regulated nervous system is a flexible nervous system.
That you can really support nervous system regulation is doing things like regular meditation even a few minutes a day,
Becoming aware of the fact that you might be in a dysregulated or stuck state,
And that the best way to get out of that is small little things you can do throughout the day.
Less screen time,
Spending more time outside,
Daily meditation,
Moving your body,
And then finding something that feels really good to you,
Really supportive,
Really calming,
That can be anything,
Reading a book,
Going outside,
Playing with your kids,
And trying to get yourself out of this stuck state.
And then over time,
Your nervous system adapts and it becomes more flexible again.
