I like to think of the nervous system as the main switchboard of our body as it is the command centre of all other systems - the circulatory system, the respiratory system, the digestive system, etc. From that command centre, our nervous system acts as an electrochemical operating system, communicating to us through sensations, nerve activation, neurotransmitters, and other signals. It tells us what to move toward and what to move away from. The nervous system assesses, measures and relays our sense of safety, internally amongst the other systems of our own body and externally, to other human nervous systems. It's also a bi-directional circuit, so we can use the functions under our control - like breathing, awareness, and movement to influence our nervous system.
Developing a deeper relationship with our nervous system is like learning to surf the waves it generates. These waves rise and fall within us, all day long, often outside of our conscious awareness. By noticing the little waves, we can master riding the bigger ones when they come.
Every in-breath brings oxygen and potential surge of energy. Every exhale brings potential relaxation. Breath cycles are an example of ultradian rhythms - the body's biological cycles which happen within 24 hours, along with heartbeat, blinking and digestion. Our infradian rhythms are our body's biological cycles that happen approximately every twenty-eight days, like a menstrual cycle. Our bodies also respond to seasonal cycles - the surge of spring, the fruition of summer, the withering of fall, and the dormancy of winter.
When our nervous system is living in harmony with these cycles, we are awake during the day and asleep at night, so we can easily digest and eliminate what we eat and our body is awakened when we feel awakened. But most of all we experience those simple little pleasures and joys of being alive. We can laugh really hard or cry until there are no more tears to cry. We have the energy to do all the things we need to do. This kind of fine-tuning is what gives us the experience of living in harmony with our true selves and the universe.
So what sets us apart from our true selves?
It is often a lack of boundaries, self-love, and confidence, along with negative belief systems and coping styles that we have inherited or developed throughout our lives. Once the vicious cycle is established it is hard to get out of it. We all had those experiences of profound disconnection between our instinctual body and rational mind. Our minds have some ideas about how we should feel, but we just don't. We try different diets, meditation practices, and therapists and instead of feeling better, we feel worse! Although we've had a little relief here and there, we feel even more frustrated. In spite of all these tools, techniques and attempts we feel out of control and filled with dread about living like this. So instead of solving the problem we just learn to live with it. We learn to manage our anxiety, depression, fatigue, and anger.
In my life, I had also done yoga, meditation, talk therapy, Buddhism, and chanting. All these practices helped me feel somewhat better and get a little bit closer to myself. But something was missing. What I didn't realise is that I was getting too dependent on them. In order to feel at ease I had to use them as medication. It was more like dealing with symptoms rather than the roots of the problem. What was missing is the wisdom and voice of the body. Our bodies communicate with us in myriad ways that we often ignore or dismiss. We can only create true safety when we are rooted in our bodies.
When we learn how to listen to, work with, and fully inhabit our bodies, we can begin to heal. We can begin to act in accordance with our current reality rather than the past. When we start tuning into the body's wisdom we can respect our own physiology and make choices accordingly, instead of trying to fit ourselves into a model, method, program or diet that seems to work for other people. Then, instead of ‘training our mind' or ‘eradicating negative thoughts', getting better might look like tolerating new environments, sleeping better at night, or developing better relationships. At first, it might not seem glamorous, but sometimes positive shifts happen in subtle ways we don't immediately recognise. We are often much more aware of the presence of anxiety or pain rather than their absence. It is much easier for us to notice the pain we feel in our body than to notice the place that feels good.
My goal is to help you feel comfortable in your own skin and with yourself. The solution-focused approach allows you to focus on the present and your preferred future rather than dwelling on and analysing past problems. The relaxation achieved through hypnosis will calm your nervous system and allow access to your subconscious where you can build new and healthy patterns of behaviour. This will break the cycle of negative thinking and allow you to make positive, lasting changes in your life.