What is Nervous System Retraining

This post explores nervous system dysfunction or dysregulation, and how nervous system retraining can help.

What is nervous system dysregulation?

Nervous system dysregulation refers to an imbalance within the body’s nervous system, disrupting its ability to appropriately respond to stimuli, often manifesting as physical and emotional symptoms due to an overactive “fight or flight” response and an inability to properly transition to a “rest and digest” state.

Essentially, it’s when the body’s internal alarm system becomes overly sensitive and can’t regulate itself effectively, leading to symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Nervous system dysregulation is often at the root of MCAS.

Key points about nervous system dysregulation:

Cause: Chronic stress, trauma, significant life changes, or exposure to toxins can contribute to nervous system dysregulation.

Mechanism: An imbalance between the sympathetic nervous system (“fight or flight”) and the parasympathetic nervous system (“rest and digest”).

Symptoms: Include headaches, muscle tension, digestive issues, insomnia, fatigue, rapid heart rate, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, depression, difficulty concentrating

Treatment approaches: Include mindfulness practices, deep breathing exercises, relaxation techniques, therapy, lifestyle changes like regular exercise and good sleep hygiene, and nervous system retraining.

What is MCAS?

Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis. MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments involve using antihistamines, mast cell stabilizers, and avoiding triggers. Check out this post on how to manage MCAS.

What is nervous system retraining?

Nervous system retraining is a process that uses neuroplasticity techniques to retrain the brain and nervous system to respond differently. Some methods of nervous system retraining include: 

  • The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)
  • The Gupta Brain Retraining Program – This program aims to retrain the brain to recognize danger signals and send safety signals. It involves relaxation techniques like meditation and breathing, followed by core brain retraining.
  • Amygdala and Insula Retraining (AIR) – This technique uses neuroplasticity to retrain the amygdala and insula, which can help the immune and autonomic nervous systems return to homeostasis. AIR has been shown to help with chronic conditions like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS.
  • Pain reprocessing therapy (PRT) – This treatment helps the brain “unlearn” pain signals that continue to be sent after an injury has healed. PRT involves helping participants re-evaluate painful sensations and manage emotions that can make pain worse.
  • Nerve desensitization – his technique involves exposing hypersensitive areas to stimuli that are unpleasant, such as different textures, hot or cold, tapping, vibration, and more.

Other ways to calm the nervous system include: 

  • Meditation
  • Breathing exercises like deep breathing, diaphragmatic breathing, or box breathing

Symptoms of a dysregulated nervous system include: 

Mood swings, Anxiety, Stress, Depression, Irritability, Headaches, Weakened immune system, Chronic pain, Muscle tension, and Insomnia.

Why Nervous System Regulation is Essential for Our Well-being

The autonomic nervous system regulates essential bodily functions. When we feel in danger, this system kicks in to protect us by engaging in what are
commonly known as the “fight/flight” or “freeze” responses.
You may be able to identify when your autonomic nervous system is in a defensive state if you notice difficulties with:

  • Sleep
  • Concentration
  • Mental clarity
  • Breathing
  • Digestion
  • Social connection

Benefits of Nervous System Regulation

The benefits of nervous system regulation include:

  • Improved response to stress – Better respond to difficult situations and move past them instead of reacting and getting “stuck” in them
  • Ability to access higher learning and cognition – Become attuned to and more in control of emotions, so you can move through temporary setbacks with more flexibility and ease.
  • More social connection and deeper relationships – By activating the part of the brain that allows us to be more social, affectionate, and connected, the SSP can help shift you into a state where you are more comfortable and at ease engaging with others, leading to deeper and more meaningful relationships.

What is the SSP?

The SSP is a listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory created by Stephen Porges to unlock your ability to think, feel, and connect better through nervous system regulation. You use the SSP via an app on your phone and listen with over-the-ear headphones to specially filtered music that heals the nervous system, specifically the vagus nerve. You subscribe to the app with a provider like me and listen to the specially curated music for 30 minutes each day for a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions:

  • 61% of clients using the SSP had reduced anxiety
  • 54% of clients using the SSP had reduced depression
  • 63% of clients using the SSP had fewer trauma symptoms
  • 47% of clients using the SSP had fewer psychosocial challenges

Who can the SSP help?

The SSP is helpful for anyone with a history of trauma, supports many client populations, and may help reduce symptoms and support overall health and resiliency for people seeking support for:

  • Chronic illnesses like MCAS
  • Challenges related to autonomic dysfunction, such as eating difficulties, gut health, and more
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Neurodevelopmental differences, such as autism, hyperactivity, and attention
  • Learning difficulties
  • Auditory and other sensory processing differences
  • Trauma history
  • Sleep
  • Neurological changes

If you’d like to learn more about the SSP, please reach out to me!

How it works

The music of the SSP has been specially filtered to highlight frequencies of sound that typically make us feel safe.
These types of frequencies can be found in everyday sounds, such as:

  • Talking, laughter
  • Water flowing
  • Musical instruments
  • Wind or leaves rustling

    Some people’s nervous systems have a harder time interpreting safety on their own. This can include (but is not limited to) individuals who:
  • Have experienced difficult life events
  • Live with an illness or injury
  • Have sensory, learning, or developmental differences

The SSP helps restore this ability by sending “cues of safety” directly to the nervous system, so you can feel more calm, engaged, and balanced.

Safe and Effective for All Ages

The SSP has helped over 100,000 children, adolescents, and adults in more than 70 countries worldwide.
Uniquely, many families experience the SSP together and in support of one another.

The SSP Helps MCAS and Many Other Conditions!

In addition to MCAS, the SSP supports Many Symptoms and Conditions. The SSP may help reduce symptoms and support overall health and resiliency for
people seeking support for:

  • Trauma history
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Autism, hyperactivity, and attention
    Chronic pain
  • Chronic health conditions
  • Sensory and auditory processing
  • And more

The SSP is Easy

I have used the SSP since November 2023. Nervous system dysregulation was at the root of my chronic illness and the SSP was instrumental in putting it into remission. Before starting the SSP I tried many different trauma healing programs, limbic system and vagus nerve healing therapies, and nervous system retraining programs including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing, Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM), Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS), Cranio Sacral Therapy, Osteopathic Therapy, and others.

However, SSP was by far the most straightforward, easy to use, and effective of these therapies.

Backed By Decades of Research

The SSP’s effectiveness has been proven in a wide range of clinical studies, including clinical trials involving children and adults with autism.
Real-world evidence has also shown significant improvements in the following areas after the SSP: Learn more and see full results here.

61% of clients with anxiety symptoms moved from clinical to non-clinical level
54% of clients with depression symptoms moved from clinical to non-clinical level
63% of clients with trauma-related symptoms moved from clinical to non-clinical level
47% of clients experiencing psychosocial challenges moved

The SSP Works with Other Therapies

The SSP can be combined with and is supportive of other therapies that you may already be engaged in, such as:

  • Occupational, physical, and speech therapy; play therapy; and sensory integration therapy
  • Mental health and trauma therapies, such as EMDR, Somatic Experiencing, and Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Talk therapy (CBT, DBT, MCBT, etc.)
  • Bodywork, yoga , and other somatic approaches

Multiple Playlists

Genres include popular, classical instrumental, and ambient music, offering both vocal and nonvocal, trauma-sensitive options. The playlists are suitable for all ages.

Listen From Almost Anywhere

You can listen to the music of the SSP remotely from the comfort of your own home, allowing for flexibility and ease. Betsy will collaborate with you on a listening plan that meets your needs.

The bucket theory

The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.

Know your typical symptom progression

Knowing your symptom progression in a symptom flare is the key to developing your rescue planThis post discusses how to recognize your symptom progression so you can be prepared to address those symptoms.

Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!

Want a tool to easily keep track of your symptoms? Sign up for my newsletter and you will receive my free 50-page ebook of lower-histamine, grain-free, sugar-free recipes, my free symptom log, and a free two-week meal plan!

Sign up for the SSP!

You can sign up for the SSP here!

Order my book!

Rocks and Roots chronicles my journey solo backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail and overcoming nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to hike 328 miles successfully.

Check out this powerful frequency device

Healy is an individualized microcurrent device I use to reduce inflammation. Check out this post for more about Healy.

Sign up for a session!

I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching and Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books

Click here for more information.

What do you think?

I’d love to have your reply below!

Disclaimer

The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure or treatment. Always seek advice from your medical doctor. 

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