Soulfully Rich

Holistic
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“Characterized by the belief that the parts of something are interconnected and can be explained only by reference to the whole.”

languages.oup.com

As I dive into writing this, I’m realizing what a vast and complex topic it is. So I decided to do this article as Part 1 of a series.

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I used to feel like I needed a nap all the time, even after what I thought was a restful night’s sleep. Some nights, I would sleep just fine, and others would be insomnia ridden either way mornings were hard, and days seemed long. I needed caffeine and often would drink enough to give myself anxiety yet would still somehow feel lethargic. Even on the days I didn’t drink coffee, anxiety was a familiar foe. It would come and go, and sometimes, it would even make itself at home for a few days or linger on for weeks. I was jumpy, and simple thoughts could bring me to an anxious edge.
My hormones and emotions were out of balance. PMS was particularly hard.

Food made me feel like crap.
Everything made me feel like crap. Negative thoughts outweighed the positive ones. I had a “this is just my luck” attitude and saw the world as more of a battleground than a playground.
I was so tired of feeling drained, so I started making changes to my life.

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With the understanding that we’re looking at our life as a whole, not one singular aspect, I have listed below 3 things pertaining to the mental/emotional portion of nervous system regulation. I feel these things play key roles in my own experience of balancing the nervous system.

This list does not cover every facet of the holistic approach to nervous system regulation. Also, each topic I name could be an entire article on its own. (Let me know if that’s something you’d like to see)

I wanted to offer a jumping off place for others that are where I have been and who are looking to feel better throughout their day-to-day lives.

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(This article may contain limited affiliate links to items I actually trust and use. Links help keep things going 🙂

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#1

Self-talk matters

The very first clear step I remember taking was watching my thoughts. The things you think and believe will literally shape your life. I began changing the way I think and speak to myself. And let me to you what, that has been a process! It began with just becoming aware of the thoughts and the things I was saying to myself. I feel that by catching my negative self-talk, it prevents me from stressing myself out and even prevents me from taking actions that would lead to further dysregulation. (Of course, I still have moments where this is hard, but they come and go MUCH quicker.) I had begun doing this naturally, but years later, I was gifted Eckhart Tolle’s book The Power of Now
This really helped me to become more of an observer of the thoughts and more detached from the emotional response.

“Allowing ourselves to feel feelings without staying in them is extremely important to nervous system regulation.”

#2

No negative media

Even though I do not allow negative media on my feeds or TV, I am conscious of the things happening in the world and will occasionally read up on events that are going on. However, I am aware of what I can and can not control, so it does not stick with me negatively. If something makes me feel bad, I shut it off immediately. That goes for movies, shows, social media, music, etc. I have moments of pain and sadness for the suffering in the world. Many times, it will even bring me to tears. I allow myself to feel it and move forward. I can not carry that weight with me throughout my day or my life. Allowing ourselves to feel feelings without staying in them is extremely important to nervous system regulation. I choose to use those feelings as motivation to be the best person I can be in this world. The ripple effect is real! And how we think, feel, and act matters.

“And if you want a regulated nervous system, these issues must be resolved.”

#3

Self-help

This began shortly after the time I started speaking to myself differently. I found myself a counselor for the first time in my adult life, and that opened doors to self-healing I didn’t know existed. Self-help looks different for everyone, but I do truly believe it is crucial to regulating your nervous system. I still revisit counseling every few years if I feel like I need it. However, I mostly focus on finding information that pertains to my life specifically and doing research on my own. Reading and audio books have been huge building blocks for me. I don’t just read, I study. I journal and reflect. I usually have a notebook at my side when reading. I write down quotes and sometimes entire paragraphs that resonate with me. I then journal my thoughts, feelings, and insights around those things that resonate. I also use this time for introspection. I look at the way things make me feel, and I follow that feeling to its root. I don’t give up, revisiting the work until the feeling is resolved. Even if this takes me years. Some emotional wounds can not be fixed by simply reading a book or visiting a therapist a few times. These wounds are often the underlying causes of dysregulation, or they are the source of self-sabotaging behaviors that are causing the dysregulation.

If you want a regulated nervous system, these issues must be resolved.

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As you can see, this is a long and complex topic. I will ultimately be putting together a comprehensive short form list of ALL of the holistic aspects that have been important for me finding balance in my nervous system. If you would like to also see in-depth articles on each topic, please let me know! This tells me if I am on the right track with helping you or not, so I appreciate your feedback. 🙂

I hope that this has sparked your interest and maybe given you a different perspective to the approach of nervous system regulation.