Thomas Zydron Profile picture
Mar 23 19 tweets 6 min read Read on X
Pharma isn’t telling you this…

But your VAGUS NERVE holds the key to stopping stress instantly.

This hidden nerve:
• Controls your mood
• Lowers your heart rate
• Calms your nervous system

Here are 11 science-backed ways to activate it and eliminate stress fast:🧵 Image
Image
So why does the vagus nerve matter?

It’s your body’s “calm button”—links your brain to your heart, lungs, gut.

When it’s activated, your stress melts away.

But when it’s ignored, stress builds, anxiety spikes, and burnout takes over.

Let me show you how it works. Image
Your vagus nerve is the boss of your “rest and digest” system.

When it’s working properly, you feel calm, focused, and balanced.

But when it’s weak? That’s when anxiety, panic, and exhaustion take over.

The wild part?
You can strengthen it. Just these 11 tricks👇
1/ Cold Water Face Plunge

Submerging your face in cold water for 15-30 seconds activates the vagus nerve through a reflex that lowers your heart rate.

This quick method gives your body a jolt of calm.

Studies confirm increased vagal tone after cold water exposure.
2/ Deep Breathing

Slow, controlled breaths (e.g., 4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) stimulate the vagus nerve and help you relax.

This simple trick helps shift your body from fight-or-flight into calm mode.

Deep breathing increases vagal activity and heart rate variability (HRV). Image
3/ Gargling

Gargling water forcefully for 30-60 seconds stimulates muscles in your throat connected to the vagus nerve.

It sounds strange, but the results are real.

Some studies suggest this method activates vagal pathways.
4/ Auricular Acupuncture

Targeting specific points in your ear can stimulate the vagus nerve and reduce stress.

This practice is backed by science and taps into alternative medicine for stress relief.

Studies show reduced heart rate and stress response. Image
5/ Humming or "Bee Breath"

Humming or using the "bee breath" technique stimulates your vagus nerve through vibrations in your throat.

It’s a simple way to calm your mind and body.

Humming has been shown to increase heart rate variability (HRV), which improves vagal function.
Why does this matter?

Strengthening your vagus nerve doesn’t just help you feel calmer.

It’s linked to better sleep, improved focus, and even long-term health benefits like lower blood pressure.

And all it takes are small tweaks in your daily routine.
6/ Laughter Yoga

Even if you force laughter, it still triggers the vagus nerve, especially through the diaphragm.

It’s an instant mood boost and a way to naturally stimulate calm.

Laughter has been linked to increased HRV and vagal tone.
7/ Foot Reflexology

Massaging specific pressure points on your feet can activate your vagus nerve, helping to reduce stress and anxiety.

It’s hands-on and deeply relaxing.

Reflexology has been shown to improve HRV and reduce stress. Image
8/ Vagus Nerve Massage (Carotid Sinus)

Massaging the carotid sinus in your neck directly stimulates the vagus nerve.

But caution—use gentle, circular motions and avoid prolonged pressure.

Clinical insights suggest this massage can lower heart rate.
9/ Sleeping on Your Right Side

This one is surprising, sleeping on your right side can enhance vagal activation.

It’s an effortless way to support your vagus nerve.

Studies suggest that right-side sleeping may increase heart rate variability (HRV).
10/ Tai Chi

Practicing slow, mindful movements combined with deep breathing stimulates your vagus nerve and reduces stress.

It’s a holistic way to support your body and mind.

Tai Chi has been shown to improve vagal tone in multiple studies. Image
11/ Om Chanting

Chanting "Om" for 30-60 seconds creates vibrations that stimulate the vagus nerve, promoting relaxation and calm.

It’s spiritual and science-backed.

It's linked to similar benefits as humming and shown to reduce stress.
It’s time to stop trying short-term fixes for your stress.

If you’ve tried everything but still feel overwhelmed, there’s something deeper going on:

You need to strengthen your vagus nerve to take control of your stress for good👇
I know how it feels—I’ve been there.

Stress used to run my life for years:
• My daughter’s illness
• 60-hour work weeks
• Prioritizing screen time over family

But then I discovered how to break free from chronic stress.

Now, I share the same techniques that saved me with you:
If you want to learn more about:

• Crushing stress & burnout
• Beat anxiety & reclaim calm
• Saving time each week by ditching distractions

Join other driven leaders in my Newsletter and get my 5-Minute Focus Fix as a bonus:
thebrainrewire.com
Thanks for reading!

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More from @thebrainrewire

Mar 22
Your anxiety might not be in your mind.

It’s controlled by a hidden system in your body:

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Ignored by doctors but quietly fueling your anxiety, stress, and panic.

If meds and therapy haven’t worked, it’s time to uncover the real culprit. Image
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But what exactly is the HPA Axis, and why haven’t you heard about it?

Imagine a hidden control center in your body that silently dictates how stressed, anxious, or calm you feel.

That’s the HPA Axis—your body’s stress-response system.
When your brain senses danger or stress, it sends an emergency signal to the HPA Axis.

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It’s how your body preps you to deal with threats. Sounds helpful, right?

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Mar 21
The most dangerous, common, and overlooked problem in the world:

Stress.

It's the reason why you're depressed, anxious, and your nervous system is a wreck.

Here's a simple technique to deal with stress instantly (backed by science):🧵 Image
The physiological sigh is the fastest way to calm yourself in stressful situations.

It accesses your autonomic nervous system, which controls your heart rate, breathing, and stress response.

And it works in real-time when you need it most.

Here's how it works:
When you inhale, the diaphragm moves down, the heart gets bigger, and blood flows slower.

Your brain notices this and speeds up your heart rate.

When you exhale, the opposite happens.

How can you use this to calm down?
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Mar 20
Big Pharma’s biggest friend:

CORTISOL.

They bank billions on your stress:
• Diabetes ($66 billion)
• Anti-aging ($47 billion)
• Psych drugs ($21 billion)

Here are 7 traps you fall into (and keep you hooked on them):🧵 Image
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Cortisols danger is overlooked:
• Up to 50% of people get depression
• 63% higher risk of early death
• 90% increase in heart disease

Pharma’s perfect business–your stress, their money.

Fix it to get out of their control↓
Trap 1: Poor Sleep

Lack of sleep is the fastest way to high cortisol.

It disrupts your hippocampus, which governs memory, stress, and calm.

And it ruins your clarity and resilience when you need them most.

Watch this to see how to improve sleep:
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This woman fixes what therapist can’t:

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She spent years studying neuroscience until she understood how to rewire the human brain.

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Here’s how it works:🧵 Image
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Did you know your brain creates up to 60K thoughts per day?

Most happen unconsciously, yet they control your behavior, emotions, and even physical responses.

When these thoughts turn negative and stressful, simply telling yourself "think positive" doesn't work.

Here's why: Image
When your stress system activates, your rational thinking shuts down.

Your brain perceives negative thoughts as threats - triggering your fight/flight response.

Before you can change your thoughts, you need to calm your physiology.

These 7 steps can help you get there:
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If you drink coffee, you’re likely have caffeine-induced insomnia.

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Here are 7 steps to reverse it for good: Image
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93% of adults consume caffeine regularly, but many don't realize its impact on sleep quality.

The real culprit is how caffeine affects your brain: Image
Here's the brain science behind it:

Caffeine blocks a sleepy brain chemical called "adenosine":

• It disrupts your sleep cycle
• You stay up late and feel exhausted the next day
• Worse, sleep deprivation leads to more caffeine consumption

A never-ending cycle. Image
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This doctor says what we call "normal" is making us sick.

He believes our culture is causing disease, addiction, and loneliness.

And he has the evidence to prove it.

Here's how our toxic society is harming us, and what we can do about it:🧵 Image
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We often think diseases just happen randomly or due to bad genes.

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This isn't coincidence. It's science.
We develop adaptive behaviors when we're young to survive when our emotional needs aren't met.

We learn to suppress our true feelings, become people-pleasers, or take care of others before ourselves.

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