Matthew LaBosco Profile picture
Nervous System Specialist | Author | 10K+ hrs researching & coaching mental well-being & nutrition | Helping you end stress through nervous system literacy

Aug 29, 14 tweets

Big Pharma doesn't want you to know this...

Parasympathetic activation is the #1 way to break bad habits, release childhood trauma, and reset your nervous system for peak health.

Here's how it works and how to make it your superpower:

THREAD 🧵

Carl Jung once said:

“Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”

Your vagus nerve is the same.

Until you learn to consciously control your behavior, your biology dictates your actions.

The antidote is your parasympathetic system.

It’s the signal: “You’re safe. You can recover now.”

Only in this state does the brain shift from defense to repair.

It can rewire habits, boost immunity, and process stored trauma instead of recycling it.

Think of it as a switch.

• On one side: survival, cravings, burnout.
• On the other hand: healing, focus, resilience.

That switch is the vagus nerve—a wandering superhighway that links brain, heart, lungs, and gut.

Here’s the good news: you can flip that switch on demand.

No drugs. No expensive devices.

Simple practices send signals through the vagus nerve that downshift you out of fight-or-flight in less than 60 seconds...

Fix 1: Extend your exhale.

Every inhale speeds the heart. Every exhale slows it.

A long, deliberate exhale tells your nervous system: “It’s safe.”

This lowers cortisol and activates recovery in real time.

P.S. We’re launching a 5-Day Challenge with even more powerful tools to build your stress immunity toolkit.

It’s step-by-step, practical, and designed to rewire stress at its root.

Join our waitlist now for 20% off until launch on Sept 6:

matthewlabosco.com/chronic-stress…

FIX 2: The physiological sigh.

Two sharp inhales through the nose, one long exhale through the mouth.

It clears carbon dioxide, restores oxygen balance, and calms the body fast.
Your body does it in sleep. Soldiers use it to stay steady under fire.

FIX 3: Hum with intention.

The vibration activates vagal fibers in your throat and chest.

Two minutes of humming boosts heart rate variability, increases calm, and primes your body for sleep.

It feels simple but it’s backed by neurobiology.

FIX 4: Spread these signals through your day.

10 slow breaths before meetings.
3 sighs when stress spikes.
A hum before bed.

Repetition is how the nervous system learns. These “mini resets” train calm to become your default state.

Fix 5: Cold water on the face

A splash of cold water or even holding your breath while submerging your face activates the vagus nerve's “dive reflex.”

It rapidly lowers heart rate and brings your system back to baseline calm.

If you enjoyed this, you'd love the 5-Day Challenge.

5 days of guided practices to make parasympathetic activation your baseline—so stress no longer hijacks your health, habits, or happiness.

Waitlist closes Sept 6 (20% off):

matthewlabosco.com/chronic-stress…

Hi, I’m Matthew LaBosco.

I’ve spent over 20 years coaching high performers and teaching over 10,000 hours on stress, health, and mental well-being.

Follow me @matthew_LaBosco for threads on breaking stress at its root, restoring energy, and unlocking vitality.

I feel like we're using too many bullet points right now.

Most people try to outwork stress.

But stress isn’t something you push through—it’s something you rewire.

Follow @matthew_LaBosco to learn practical strategies that turn stress into strength.

Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.

A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.

Keep scrolling