When we feel threatened, the body's Fight-Flight-Freeze response goes into action.
The limbic system is the part of the brain that regulates stimulation, emotion, learning, memory and involves social connectedness.
It has 2 parts: the sympathetic division which activates "fight flight or freeze" immediately when we perceive danger and the parasympathetic division which returns us to the "rest and digest" state after the (perceived) danger has passed.
The return to rest happens slowly. For the chronically stressed, return to a relaxed state can be very difficult.
You cannot be in fight-flight-freeze and the rest-digest states at the same time.
To move from fear or stress (high beta) to relaxed (alpha or theta),
use practices such as relaxation techniques (see my breathing exercises) or meditation / hypnosis / ritual.
These help to slow down and end the fight-flight-freeze response.
© copyright karen elena james 2020
The limbic system is the part of the brain that regulates stimulation, emotion, learning, memory and involves social connectedness.
It has 2 parts: the sympathetic division which activates "fight flight or freeze" immediately when we perceive danger and the parasympathetic division which returns us to the "rest and digest" state after the (perceived) danger has passed.
The return to rest happens slowly. For the chronically stressed, return to a relaxed state can be very difficult.
You cannot be in fight-flight-freeze and the rest-digest states at the same time.
To move from fear or stress (high beta) to relaxed (alpha or theta),
use practices such as relaxation techniques (see my breathing exercises) or meditation / hypnosis / ritual.
These help to slow down and end the fight-flight-freeze response.
© copyright karen elena james 2020
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