At Home Stress Management: How To Live “Free”
According to the report of the American Psychological Association, 77% of American citizens are experiencing vagus nerve stimulation and physical symptoms caused by stress. Such as headaches, upset stomach, and feeling overwhelmed.
Stress is an unattachable part of our busy life in one way or another. But it becomes a problem when it negatively impacts our physical and mental health. Chronic stress can lead to heart disease, obesity, anxiety, and depression.
Thankfully, there are easy and accessible options to choose from to manage our stress levels and promote relaxation.
This blog post will explore some at-home stress management techniques that can help you live a happier, healthier life—including vagus nerve stimulation.
What Is The Vagus Nerve?
This interesting nerve actually starts in the brain, specifically in the medulla oblongata. From there, it also runs through the neck and down the chest into the abdomen areas.
The Vagus nerve is the longest nerve in the human body and it’s responsible for many things including heart rate, digestion, and immune response.
We can’t talk about vagus nerve stimulation without also discussing vagal tone, which is a useful measure of how well our nervous system is functioning. A high vagal tone indicates a healthy nervous system while a low vagal tone can be indicative of stress or illness.
1. Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS)
Vagus nerve stimulation is a treatment that sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve to help tone it. This treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing anxiety, depression, and seizure activity. It’s thought to work by modulating the nervous system’s activity and improving communication between the brain and body.
Traditional VNS is typically done surgically, by using a device that is implanted under the skin. Luckily, handheld devices like Xen by Neuvana can also be used for self-stimulation. This type of neurostimulation is known as transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation because it’s done through the skin, rather than under it.
2. TVNZ Benefits
There are a number of potential (and impressive) benefits associated with vagus nerve stimulation, including:
● Reduced anxiety
● Improved mood
● Increased heart rate variability
● Lower blood pressure
● Improved gastrointestinal motility
With all of those VNS benefits in mind, it’s no wonder this is becoming an increasingly popular stress-management tool!
Vagus nerve stimulation is a promising treatment for those struggling with stress and anxiety. At-home, noninvasive, and easy-to-use devices like Xen by Neuvana make it far more accessible than ever for anyone looking to live “free.” So, if you’re trying different options to manage your stress, vagus nerve stimulation may be worth trying.
Along with TVNZ, there are a number of other effective stress-management techniques that can be done at home that we’ll cover next.
3. Get Moving
Exercise is a good way to relieve stress and all the other benefits it provides. It releases endorphins (a.k.a. happy hormones) that boost our mood and help us feel good. And the best part? You don’t have to go to the gym to get an effective workout!
There are plenty of ways to get your sweat on at home or close to home with no equipment needed for vagus nerve stimulation.
For example, taking a brisk walk around your neighborhood (bonus points if you listen to music you love while you walk!) or doing basic yoga poses are all effective ways to get your body moving and get your stress levels down.
4. Make Time For Yourself
In our hectic lives, it’s essential to make time for activities that bring us joy and make us feel good with vagus nerve stimulation.
Whether it’s reading your favorite book, taking a relaxing bath, or going for a leisurely hike in nature, carve out some time each day (or each week) to do things that are just for you with no strings attached.
Dedicating even just 15-20 minutes to yourself can make a world of difference in how stressed you feel.
5. Connect With Loved Ones
Research has shown that social support is one of the most important buffers against stress. When we feel connected to others and have people we can rely on, we’re better able to cope with stressful situations and vagus nerve stimulation.
So keep in touch with your family and friends, whether it’s through text, social media, or good old-fashioned face-to-face conversation. Just hearing their voices or seeing their friendly faces can help reduce our stress levels and make us feel more calm and connected.
6. Build Your Resilience
Resilience is our ability to “bounce back” or make a comeback after facing adversity. It’s what helps us get through tough times in life without being permanently damaged by the experience.
There are things we can do to build our resilience and make ourselves more resistant to stress, such as practicing mindfulness, developing a positive outlook, and learning how to manage our emotions.
While vagus nerve stimulation takes time and effort to develop resilience, these efforts can pay off in the long run by making us better able to cope with stressful situations.
7. Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a form of meditation that involves focusing your attention on the present moment and bringing awareness to your thoughts, emotions, and sensations without judgment.
The vagus nerve stimulation can help you learn to control your stress response and prevent yourself from getting “stuck” in a cycle of negative thinking.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness, from using a mindfulness app to attending a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) class or simply taking time each day to sit quietly and focus on your breath.
8. Deep Breathing Exercises
Speaking of breath, deep breathing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce stress instantly.
When stressed, our breathing becomes shallow and rapid, which can increase our heart rate and our muscles tense up.
Deep breathing and vagus nerve stimulation help to reverse this stress response by slowing down our heart rate and relaxing our muscles. It’s also an effective way to get more oxygen to our brains, which can help us think more clearly.
Final Notes
Stress is a normal part of life, but it doesn’t have to take over our lives completely. Using some of the popular stress management and vagus nerve stimulation which are mentioned above, we can regain control and feel more calm and relaxed.
So don’t be afraid to experiment with stress-management methods and find what works best for you. And remember, there is no one-size-fits-all solution; what works for one person’s stress may not work for another.
The important thing is to be patient, gentle, persistent, and kind to yourself as you journey toward a life free from stress.
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