by Dr. Kim | Mar 3, 2023 | Somatic Psychology, Stress Management
The Ventral Vagal System In earlier posts, I talked about the systems for action and shutdown. But what’s at the top of the ladder, where we feel at ease and connected? The ventral vagal system is the social engagement system Enter the ventral vagus. It centers...
by Dr. Kim | Mar 3, 2023 | Somatic Psychology, Stress Management
The Dorsal Vagal System In an earlier post, I talked about the sympathetic system that helps get you motivated to action. But what calms down that acceleration? The parasympathetic system, or “rest and digest” system, helps calm down respiration and heart...
by Dr. Kim | Mar 3, 2023 | Uncategorized
The Sympathetic System: Moving into Action When I say the words “fight or flight,” how do you respond? Typically, people will do one of 3 things: cringe, feel a jolt of anxious energy, or feel their eyes gloss over (not this again!). The sympathetic...
by Dr. Kim | Mar 3, 2023 | Somatic Psychology, Stress Management
The Vagus Nerve and Stress We spend so much time disconnected from our bodies, focusing outward to all the things we have to do and all the things we need to do in the future. The problem is that when we disconnect from our bodies, we miss important information to...