A study conducted on various sleep positions found:
Subjects who slept on their right side stimulated their vagus nerve the most.
And those who slept on their back did the worst.
4. Meditation
Meditation helps shift your body out of stress mode and into regulation.
I prefer walking meditation:
go outside for 20 minutes with no phone, no music, no distractions.
You can also sit quietly and focus on the feeling of the breath at your upper lip.
When your mind wanders, gently bring it back.
Start with 5 minutes. Build to 20+.
5. Humming or singing
These vibrations can stimulate the vagus nerve through muscles in the throat and inner ear.
Try this:
• sing for 10–15 minutes a day
• hum while driving or walking
• use low, resonant tones
• gargle to bring out deeper guttural tones
6. Social connection
Safe, positive connection helps regulate the vagus nerve.
What to do:
• laugh more (with others)
• practice gratitude
• choose quality (over quantity)
• avoid toxic relationships
• have meaningful conversations
Loneliness doesn’t just hurt emotionally.
It can keep your nervous system stuck in stress.
7. Gentle movement
If you’re already burnt out, too much intensity can push your nervous system further into stress.
Focus on movement that restores instead of drains.
What to do:
• walk in nature
• do yoga or tai chi
• try light swimming
The goal isn’t more strain. It’s helping your body come out of defense.
If you’re exhausted, wired, and not recovering the way you should, don’t just chase more hacks.
Start at the root.
My free email course, The Imaginal Path to Anxiety Release, walks you through a deeper way to begin — including drawing as part of the process: offers.lorwenharrisnagle.com/imaginal-path-…
If you found this post interesting, retweet and follow me @lorwen108
Here are 9 body-based ways to release it (without meds): 🧵
1. Cold water on your face.
1. Cold water on your face activates the vagus nerve.
It triggers the mammalian diving reflex → increases parasympathetic (vagal) activity and slows your heart rate, which helps interrupt panic attacks.
Cold water also signals GABAergic release, giving you a quick, refreshing, invigorating feeling. It's a sure-fire way to interrupt negative thought loops.
2. Slow exhales stop the fight-or-flight response-- in seconds.
Long exhales increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and vagal calming. Your entire body relaxes, and visual clarity is restored.
This often increases HRV and shifts autonomic balance away from the fight-or-flight response.
Here are 9 body-based ways to release it (without medication) 🧵
1. Cold water on your face.
1. Cold water on your face activates the vagus nerve.
It triggers the mammalian diving reflex → increases parasympathetic (vagal) activity and slows your heart rate, which helps interrupt panic attacks.
Cold water also signals GABAergic release, giving you a quick, refreshing, invigorating feeling. It's a sure-fire way to interrupt negative thought loops.
2. Slow exhales stop the fight-or-flight response-- in seconds.
Long exhales increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and vagal calming. Your entire body relaxes, and visual clarity is restored.
This often increases HRV and shifts autonomic balance away from the fight-or-flight response.