Trauma: What does the vagus nerve have to do with me anyway?

It’s happening again! The tightness in chest and body, the heartbeat racing, stomachache, difficulty managing thoughts and emotions, and the feeling of high levels of stress affecting the body. It can be triggered by a calendar date quickly approaching, conversation, smell, place, sound, season, song, or anything that brings that memory of the past trauma to the surface. But, what does the vagus nerve have to do with me anyway?

Trauma is defined by the American Psychological Association as, “An emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape, or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include: unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships, and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea.” Trauma causes the body to experience the fight, flight, or freeze response. This response helps us to survive the traumatic event, but it does not help heal the damage done.

The vagus nerve assists in bodily functions like digestion, heart rate, blood pressure and keeping the body in a state of balance or homeostasis. The body builds a habit of responding to trauma as a life- or-death threat needing less intense stimuli to trigger a reaction as time goes on. The body holds onto trauma causing energy to get stuck in the vagus nerve. So instead of being in a state of balance, we are under chronic stress levels that are damaging our health with ourselves and others.

The vagus nerve can be reset, and the body can return to the state of homeostasis. Part of resetting is to become more self-aware when it is not in balance. Signs are: chronic nausea, weight loss or gain, heart issues, depression, anxiety, chronic inflammation, chronic fatigue, heartburn, dizziness or fainting. The key to resetting the vagus nerve is to teach it how safety and calm feels, as these sensations were stolen by the trauma.

Experiencing trauma usually silences an individual’s voice, so healing the vagus nerve uses several techniques around the voice. Some of these techniques include: breathing, singing, humming, laughter, massage, yoga, meditation, and flushing face with cold water. Social engagement is important with people who bring a sense of safety and connection to your life. Healing requires that the trauma is expressed, processed, and released, which can happen in therapy.

Help the vagus nerve heal, by facing the trauma and putting it in the past.

Northwest Behavioral Health Services

2392 N. Edgewood Avenue

Jacksonville, Florida 32254

904-781-7797

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