Brian Maierhofer Profile picture
Sep 1 13 tweets 5 min read Read on X
As a therapist, I hate to break it to you, but...

If your nervous system is stuck in “survival mode,” no amount of journaling or meditation will save you.

Here are 7 techniques that heal decades of trauma, increase your stress tolerance, and improve sleep/digestion... 🧵 Image
Image
Your nervous system is a network of 86 BILLION neurons that runs from the brain to the body.

It regulates stress by activating the sympathetic system (fight/flight) or parasympathetic system (rest/digest).

Every emotion you feel starts here.
When stress lingers—the HPA axis (hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal) keeps firing:

→ Cortisol stays high
→ Digestion + immunity shut down
→ Heart rate and blood pressure rise

This chronic activation is what turns temporary stress into trauma.

Here are 7 practices you can try: Image
Image
1/ Neurogenic Tremoring (TRE)

Animals shake after escaping predators to discharge trauma.

Humans suppress this reflex—that’s why we stay stuck.

Simple exercises can trigger natural shaking that releases decades of stored stress.

Try it ↓
2/ Humming at 40–60 Hz

Bees, monks, and singers all hum at ~40–60 Hz.

This frequency stimulates the vagus nerve, boosting calm, digestion, and sleep.

Humming daily is like giving your nervous system a vibration massage.

Demo ↓
3/ 5-Second Breathing

Your lungs control your stress response.

Inhale for 5 seconds → Exhale for 5 seconds → Repeat.

This balances CO₂ and O₂, drops heart rate, and activates the parasympathetic system.

The 4-7-8 approach is also a must-try: ↓
4/ Sound Healing Frequencies

Certain frequencies (432 Hz, 528 Hz) can shift brainwave states.

Research shows they calm the amygdala and deepen relaxation.

Listening for 10 minutes can reset stress physiology.

Here's the science ↓
5/ Tapping (EFT)

Your body stores trauma in meridian points.

By tapping acupressure points while naming emotions, you “reprogram” stress loops.

Studies show EFT lowers cortisol by up to 43% in one session.

How-to ↓
6/ PMR (Progressive Muscle Relaxation)

Stress hides in your muscles.

Tense each muscle group → Hold → Release.

This teaches your brain the difference between tension and calm, lowering anxiety + improving sleep. Image
7/ Somatic Shaking

Dancers and ancient cultures used shaking to reset the body.

Modern neuroscience confirms: rhythmic shaking discharges trapped survival energy.

Just 2–3 minutes can leave you lighter and calmer.

Try this ↓
Your body already knows how to heal; it just needs the right signals.

I put together a free 5-day Nervous System Course with daily teachings + practices to help you press your “reset button.”

Get started here: bodymindaccelerator.com
TLDR:

How to Heal Trauma, Calm Stress, & Unlock the Mind:

• Somatic practices (TRE, shaking, body scans)
• Breathwork methods (physiological sigh, belly breathing)
• Vagus nerve activation (humming, cold exposure, relaxation work)

It’s not in your head; heal your body.
I'm curious, what are your thoughts on body-based healing?

I'd love to hear your thoughts—let me know below!

With the deepest respect and love,

Brian.

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Most therapists won't tell you this, but I will:

Your depression is not a mental health disorder.

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Here's the exact blueprint I teach them: 🧵
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Your body prioritizes survival over housekeeping tasks. Image
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Jul 10
Why do humans get stuck in Trauma while wild animals recover naturally?

In the 1970s, Dr. Peter Levine noticed something remarkable:

Wild animals face death daily yet don’t develop PTSD, Depression, or Anxiety.

His discovery revolutionized how we understand trauma forever:🧵 Image
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Dr. Peter Levine discovered Somatic Therapy after watching wild animals in nature.

He found that even though these animals often face dangerous situations daily, they don't suffer from long-term trauma.

On the other hand, humans and domestic animals are the only mammals that develop psychological problems after intense events...
After stress, animals undergo a natural healing process.

They shake, tremble, & breathe deeply, which helps their bodies recover and heal their nervous systems.

If these stress hormones are not processed, they can lead to PTSD, depression, and anxiety in mammals.

While humans also have the ability to process trauma, we’ve forgotten how to use it:
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The most overlooked, secretly destructive, yet completely normalized behaviour:

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And we tell ourselves comforting lies:
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Therapy was invented 120 years ago.

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How did this happen?

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We've reached peak therapy.

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