Clinicians Corner on Nervous System Regulation in Food Addiction Recovery
It’s our first Clinician’s Corner episode!! Check in here the first Friday each month for thoughtful conversations, practical tools, and expert insights!
Clinician’s Corner – Nervous System Regulation in UPF Addiction Recovery
Key Topics Discussed:
- Top Insights A Broader Mission: Clinicians Corner is here to spread practical interventions from food addiction recovery and empower both clinicians and non-clinicians, like recovery coaches, with actionable tools.
- Nervous System Basics: Fight, Flight, Freeze: Key states that influence our actions. Understanding and moving between sympathetic (stress) and parasympathetic (calm) states can change how we respond to cravings. Body-Brain Connection: 80% of body-to-brain communication underscores how physical sensations impact recovery. Think of the body as the “horse,” guiding the brain’s “rider.”
- Practical Tools for Regulation: Sigh It Out: Deep breaths and the “physiological sigh” (two quick inhales, one long exhale) reset the body in moments of overwhelm.
- Simple Movements: Light stretching, progressive muscle relaxation, and finger movements help release pent-up energy. Grounding Senses: Engage your environment with the 5-4-3-2-1 technique (seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, tasting). Scents like lavender or your favorite aromas can bring a sense of peace.
- Daily Pre-Meal Practices: Mini-Rituals: Brief walks, calming music, or being near nature before meals can ease digestion and reduce cravings. Self-Compassionate Touch: Hugging yourself or placing a hand on your chest for a few seconds promotes calm, especially if you’re working through complex emotions or past trauma.
- Why Nervous System Care Matters: Healing from Trauma: Trauma often results in hypervigilance or emotional collapse. Recognizing these responses in yourself and practicing grounding tools helps create safety from within.
- Community & Co-Regulation: Group settings, supportive peers, and even animals can offer regulatory “energy” and mirror a sense of calm for those struggling with addiction recovery.
