Accessing the healing power of the vagus nerve : self-help exercises for anxiety, depression, trauma, and autism

Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve is a practical guide to understanding the cranial nerves as the key to our psychological and physical wellbeing. Drawing from the polyvagal theory of Steven Porges--one of the biggest new developments in human neurobiology--Rosenberg explains in easy-to-understand terms how the vagus nerve, in particular, has a strong role in determining our psychological and emotional state, especially when it comes to how we relate and react to other people. By understanding the physiology of the autonomic nervous system and practicing simple exercises to restore proper vagal functioning, we can learn how to improve our emotional state within minutes. Those suffering from anxiety, depression, panic, and trauma will find much that is useful here, as well as those with physical ailments such as chronic pain and digestive problems. Additionally, because the vagus nerve is a key regulator of social interaction, therapy for proper vagal... The best-selling book on the topic--now in 11 languages. This practical guide to understanding the cranial nerves as the key to our psychological and physical well-being builds on Stephen Porges's Polyvagal Theory--one of the most important recent developments in human neurobiology. Drawing on more than thirty years of experience as a craniosacral therapist and Rolfer, Stanley Rosenberg explores the crucial role that the vagus nerve plays in determining our psychological and emotional states and explains that a myriad of common psychological and physical symptoms--from anxiety and depression to migraines and back pain--indicates a lack of proper functioning in the vagus nerve. Through a series of easy self-help exercises, the book illustrates the simple ways we can regulate the vagus nerve in order to initiate deep relaxation, improve sleep, and recover from injury and trauma. Additionally, by exploring the link between a well-regulated vagus nerve and social functioning, Rosenberg's findings and methods offer new hope that by improving social behavior it is possible to alleviate some of the symptoms at the core of many cases of autism spectrum disorders. Useful for psychotherapists, doctors, bodyworkers, and caregivers, as well as anyone who experiences the symptoms of chronic stress and depression, this book shows how we can optimize autonomic functioning in ourselves and others, and bring the body into the state of safety that activates its innate capacity to heal The best-selling book on the topic—now in 15 languages. This practical guide to understanding the cranial nerves as the key to our psychological and physical well-being builds on Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal Theory—one of the most important recent developments in human neurobiology. Drawing on more than thirty years of experience as a craniosacral therapist and Rolfer, Stanley Rosenberg explores the crucial role that the vagus nerve plays in determining our psychological and emotional states and explains that a myriad of common psychological and physical symptoms—from anxiety and depression to migraines and back pain—indicates a lack of proper functioning in the vagus nerve. Through a series of easy self-help exercises, the book illustrates the simple ways we can regulate the vagus nerve in order to initiate deep relaxation, improve sleep, and recover from injury and trauma. Additionally, by exploring the link between a well-regulated vagus nerve and social functioning, Rosenberg’s findings and methods offer new hope that by improving social behavior it is possible to alleviate some of the symptoms at the core of many cases of autism spectrum disorders. Useful for psychotherapists, doctors, bodyworkers, and caregivers, as well as anyone who experiences the symptoms of chronic stress and depression, this book shows how we can optimize autonomic functioning in ourselves and others, and bring the body into the state of safety that activates its innate capacity to heal. Techniques et exercices pour amliorer le bien-tre physique, motionnel et social Thrapeute crnio-sacr et rolfer depuis plus de trente ans, Stanley Rosenberg expose le rle crucial du nerf vague dans les tats psychologiques et motionnels. Il montre ainsi qu'on peut relier son dysfonctionnement une myriade de symptmes psychologiques et physiques courants, tels que l'anxit, les migraines ou les maux de dos. Une srie d'exercices faciles raliser et illustrs de photographies, visant la rgulation du nerf vague, permettent d'induire une relaxation profonde, d'amliorer le sommeil et de soulager certaines blessures et certains traumatismes. En mettant l'accent sur le lien entre la restauration de la fonction des nerfs crniens et l'interaction sociale, les mthodes et les rsultats de Stanley Rosenberg offrent en outre un nouvel espoir d'attnuer certains symptmes des troubles du spectre autistique. S'adressant aux psychothrapeutes, aux mdecins, aux thrapeutes corporels, aux soignants de toutes disciplines et tous ceux qui souffrent de stress chronique ou de dpression, cet ouvrage dmontre qu'il est possible d'optimiser le fonctionnement du systme nerveux autonome et d'ainsi favoriser un tat de scurit propice la gurison et l'change. "A practical guide to the vagus nerve and polyvagal theory, emphasizing exercises and self-help techniques for healing anxiety, depression, chronic pain, trauma, autism spectrum disorders, and more"-- Provided by publisher __Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve__