Massage and the Autonomic Nervous System
Polyvagal Theory (proposed by Stephen Porges) describes an autonomic nervous system that is influenced by the central nervous systems and responds to signals from both the environment and bodily organs. With an emphasis that there is a predictable pattern of reactivity, it is a way of understanding how our nervous system responds to different situations, like stress, danger or safety.
“The autonomic nervous system regulates three fundamental physiological states. The levels of safety determines which one of these is activated at any time. Whenever we feel threatened, we instinctively turn to the first level, social engagement. We call out for help, support, and comfort from the people around us. But if no one comes to our aid, or we’re in immediate danger, the organism reverts to a more primitive way to survive: fight or flight. We fight off our attacker, or we run to a safe place. However, if this fails—we can’t get away, we’re held down or trapped—the organism tries to preserve itself by shutting down and expending as little energy as possible. We are then in a state of freeze or collapse.” -The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk
It can be a single traumatic event (the loss of a loved one, a car accident, a violent encounter) that triggers such responses. The more violent or traumatic an incident is, the more aware and apparent we can be of the after effects. But what about living daily with the stress of a demanding job, a painfully, dismissive or abusive loved one, the constant struggle of health issues, money issues, family issues, personal issues? These also leave marks on our brains and our bodies.
And what if we used to ask for help, but never got it? After a while, the desire to search out support might have left us. It never came before, why would this time be any different? Massage Solutions offers you the space and time to learn about and listen to your body. You can ask for help and it will be provided.
Here are some ways to apply Polyvagal Theory to everyday life:
Recognize: the ANS controls our responses to stressors. These responses happen even if we don’t realize that our brain has detected danger or threat. Learning to pay attention to your body’s sensations and responses, you can recognize when your ANS is activated.
Self-regulation: Self-regulation is the ability to manage your emotional state and physiological responses to stressors. Many methods involve activation of the vagus nerve, such as slow, diaphragmatic or belly breathing, gentle touch, cold sensations, and relaxing activities such as yoga or meditation.
Social connection: The Polyvagal Theory suggests that connections with others helps us regulate our emotional state. Building positive connections can help us feel safe and secure, which can help manage stress and soothe our nervous system.
Recognizing Triggers: Different stimuli can trigger different branches of the ANS. Your path in life and your individual experiences have locked in your body’s responses to events or situations that are threatening to you. Recognizing these triggers gives you the opportunity to learn how to manage and/or avoid these situations.
Massage Solutions doesn’t offer psychiatric assistance, but it is a safe space in which you can learn to trust your body. We can treat the bodily reactions to chronic pain, chronic stress, or just the unbearable discomfort your body is in that you can’t explain. There is an undeniable biological connection between our mental health and our physical health. And we all deserve to be seen, heard, and have comfort and care offered to us.
