Polyvagal, Indigestion and Your Emotions
Polyvagal, Indigestion and Your Emotions
Mindbody Clarity Wellness Tips!
Dear Awesome Woman,
A lot of things have an effect on our body—genetics, sleep, climate, food, activity, emotions and the mysteries of life. What’s interesting is that in the medical world, there are no teachings about many of these things. Sitting at the table next to my niece who just finished nursing school, she mentioned that they learned nothing about the effect of food on a person’s health in her classes. Nor emotions.
How peculiar that when a medical practitioner is trained to treat patients, they are not taught to focus on the whole person— not to include the food that someone is putting in their body or the stresses in their lives including relationship stresses. Western medicine can be quite narrow minded. Traditional treatments and medicines are so important and yet they do not cover the whole picture of a person’s health.
We are fortunate for other experts who bring additional suggestions to some of life’s complex health issues.
For example, Dr. Stephen Porges, a psychologist and neuroscientist who brought the world the polyvagal theory. He shows an intimate connection between our emotions, our nervous systems, our brains and our organs.
Let’s talk a little bit about gut health and emotional safety.
“The mechanisms of the neuro-regulation of the organs below the diaphragm have to receive a signal that everything is safe. If they receive life threat signals, their bowel won’t work right.”
In other words, if you are in situations and relationships in which you do not have emotional safety, there is a strong possibility for digestive issues. And if you grew up in a home in which you did not feel safe, for whatever reason (perhaps even misunderstood), then it’s understandable if you have digestive issues.
This is all connected to the vagus nerve which goes from the brain all the way down to the gut.
Are you interacting with Borderline/Narcissists in your life? These are toxic relationships that shut you down—mind, body and soul. The body reacts to the emotional blackmail, the put downs and the everyday trauma by going into freeze and flight mode.
Do you have a job that you dislike? There are good parts and negative parts to all things in life, but if you consistently have to drag yourself out of bed every morning with a groan when it comes to going to work, it may be time to look elsewhere. Please check out: Is Your Job Draining You? 5 Mindbody Tips to a Better Career!
Was your home a place of safety or fear? Some children grew up with alcoholic parents or had parents that squabbled constantly. Or had a parent with temper issues or a sibling that wasn’t well. When we are in fear, our stomach clenches—it’s just what the vagus nerve does in reaction to alarm. This prevents the proper digestion and elimination of food.
Did you get highly criticized as a child in school or at home? Getting criticized for being you as a child, sets the nervous system into fight, flight or freeze (shut down). The lack of love and kindness and the attacks on character cause the body to constrict, tense up and feel unsafe. And these are blows to the delicate self-esteem of an emerging adult. There is damage resulting from not being seen in a compassionate, kind light.
But there is hope! As an adult, it is of utmost importance to find ways of making yourself feel safe, release stuck fear/freeze energy that’s still lurking in the cells of your body and develop new neural pathways of positive self-esteem. This is totally possible to do through Somatic healing!
I’ve helped myself and my clients through this journey. We have come a long way, baby! And now it’s your turn 🙂
Need a helping hand? Schedule your Free Clarity Call today! As a Somatic Healer, Clarity Coach & Relationship Expert I help busy women step into their radiant power through quick shifts of transformational healing, marriage tune-ups, and toxic relationship detoxes. Looking forward to hearing your voice 🙂
“There is hope! Miriam has shown me that it’s possible to release trauma, even if it’s been there for a very long time. The antidote to trauma/triggers is found in listening to your body. No matter how difficult, Miriam is one of those women who can hold your story, and guide you to a new beautiful “what if?” If you allow it, the solutions will surprise and delight you” – Chana, Baltimore
Download your free e-guide “3 Secrets to Solving Burnout and Getting Energized the Mindbody Wellness Way”(also gives access to your free download of “Escape from the Borderline/Narcissist’s Web”).
If you’re a woman who would love to enjoy a peaceful marriage and home and be empowered as an individual, I can help you achieve that. Somatic healing sessions are the way. Download your free e-guide: 6 Simple Tips to Up the Vibe of Your Marriage Today! If you haven’t had a chance to read the latest Marriage Magic post, here it is: Find Tuning Your Marriage to Make it a Great One!
Also, great news to share! “God Said What?! #MyOrthodoxLife,” my story of love, humor, faith, and Kabbalistic mystical happenings, won the GOLD award from the Nonfiction Book Awards!
Here’s a piece from the review:
“A journey like the one Feldman writes about in her book is understandably emotional. Feelings are splashed across every page, and the author’s writing style pulls readers into those moments easily. God Said What?! will inspire many in ways they don’t even expect by the time they turn the final page. A truly special book!”
~ Nonfiction Authors Association Book Awards Program
