It's pretty well known that one way to stimulate the vagus nerve to help engage the parasympathetic nervous system to help get back to homeostasis is cold therapy. Many use cold water immersion - either a cold shower, bath, or face dunk.
But did you know it's not actually the cold that stimulates the vagus nerve?!
THE REGULATION IS IN THE RELIEF! The cold actually shocks the body, engaging the sympathetic nervous system, and the relief the body gets from the elimination of the cold is where the parasympathetic nervous system steps in.
This is one reason cold therapy may not work for you as well. If you're already incredibly adrenalized, adding cold can be too much of a shock to the system doing the opposite. This also explains why hot water has calmed me in the same way cold does for others. When I get hyper-aroused, I'm often very shaky - that cold shiver from the inside out. Adding more cold to it is the LAST thing my body needs, but stepping into a hot shower? PRIMO. Even just washing my hands in really hot water sometimes.
I feel my body relax. That warmth envelops me and allows my parasympathetic nervous system to take over. So why does this also work? I think it has to do with another relaxation technique which is to intentionally tense the muscles that are already tense from stress (example, shrugging shoulders up toward ears) and then releasing to get the extra relief (moving the shoulder blades down the back as far as possible).
So anyway, just another little tidbit with nuance that matters... when we know the why, we can adjust on the fly.
Stay regulated,
Shauna
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