Why Only Regulating the Nervous System is Not Enough

Don’t get me wrong. Acknowledging when your nervous system is dysregulated is very important. As well as putting a consistent effort into regular practices that calm your nervous system. That could be anything that makes you feel more relaxed and grounded. Anything from yoga, meditation, breathing techniques, prayer, to a bubble bath, walk in nature, or a conversation with a trusted friend.

A “go to” healthy self regulation technique is something that every person needs to have in their tool belt, for triggering situations. It’s important to choose a couple of techniques that resonate with you and practice them regularly. This way when something or someone unexpectedly triggers you, you will have a healthy strategy ready to apply.

When you do not have established a healthy nervous system regulation technique, it is very easy to fall into unhealthy coping patterns. In the same way, if you notice that you are using unhealthy coping patterns in stressful situations, work on replacing them with a healthy technique. An unhealthy pattern example is smoking, overeating, overtexting, overexplaining, drinking, binge watching tv, or anything that falls into fight/flight/fawn/freeze category, and creates an illusion of making you to feel better in the moment, but actually leaves you depleted of energy instead of recharged afterwards.

So why only regulating the nervous system is not enough then?

If you only work on regulating your nervous system and not doing any other deeper work on healing yourself, you will keep getting triggered by the same situations over and over. You will temporarily feel a little bit better by applying a nervous system regulation technique. Until the next triggering situation. Until you address the root cause that gets you triggered in the first place, you will be repeatedly triggered by similar events or people, without recognizing that the cause of those triggers is internal, not external. The only way to stop being triggered is to address the root cause, not to just work with symptoms. The way to heal the root cause of your triggers is to reprogram your core wounds/limiting beliefs, by addressing your subconscious mind. You can read more about core wounds in my other post/blog.

When I work with clients, we work on both aspects. Regulating the nervous system - so you can become more calm and less irritated, and addressing the underneath issues - so that you are not getting triggered in the first place. If you would like some support and guidance to work through this process, you are welcome to schedule the discovery call with me.