Fight or flight

Healthy Aggression: What is it, and how can we embody more of it?

~ samanthacuming ~ Leave a comment

Healthy aggression happens when we have "Fight" activation from our sympathetic nervous system, and simultaneously have the grounded presence of a safe ventral vagal state, which helps to keep our response under our control. Sympathetic activation is a powerful messenger, bringing our attention to things we perceive to be threats to our own or others' … Continue reading Healthy Aggression: What is it, and how can we embody more of it?

Resourcing ourselves as we listen to others

~ samanthacuming ~ Leave a comment

As I sit and listen to my husband expressing his fear and anger over the way the coronavirus is being handled, I keep "resourcing" myself. I'm stroking my gorgeous cat, who is sitting on my lap purring, and I'm tuning into the enjoyable sensations of his fur on my skin. This helps to keep me … Continue reading Resourcing ourselves as we listen to others

Stress-busting ideas to curb coronavirus stress

~ samanthacuming ~ Leave a comment

😰 Chronic stress occurs when our body detects a threat and doesn’t return to a sense of safety. 😰 It means our “Fight or Flight” response stays switched on. 😰 This results in our body being constantly flooded with stress hormones. 😰 Over the longer term, this can suppress our immune system. 😰 Which can result in us being more … Continue reading Stress-busting ideas to curb coronavirus stress

Why it’s easy for our nervous system to get “stuck” in an unsafe state

~ samanthacuming ~ Leave a comment

Did you know that the state of our autonomic nervous system is “self-reinforcing”. 🟢 This means that, if our nervous system is sensing safety, and our "social engagement" system is dominant, then we will continue to perceive more safety cues, keeping us in a “Safe & Social” state. 🔴 But, if our nervous system is … Continue reading Why it’s easy for our nervous system to get “stuck” in an unsafe state

Polyvagal theory and the autonomic states: Safe & Social, Fight or Flight, Shut Down

~ samanthacuming ~ Leave a comment

I find it fascinating learning more about the autonomic nervous system and how the state of it is unconsciously expressed through our face, body and voice. Did you know that, according to Stephen Porge’s Polyvagal theory, the human autonomic (automatic) nervous system has 3 branches that have evolved over time in animals: ➡️ Ventral (Front) Vagal … Continue reading Polyvagal theory and the autonomic states: Safe & Social, Fight or Flight, Shut Down