How
Mindful Gratitude helps lower our Stress levels
This week, your
child is learning about the Vagus Nerve which runs from the brain stem to the
heart, lungs, and on down to the abdominal region. This nerve is semi-responsible for regulating
heart rate, breathing rate, and digestion.
This major superhighway of nerves helps the body regulate its stress response.
When we are
stressed, resources from our deeper organs are diverted to our muscles, and
from our higher cognitive function to the ‘reptilian’, reactionary LIZARD
portion of our brain. Adrenaline and
cortisol are released to help us quickly escape the danger we are in (like
pushing the accelerator in a car). This
burst of chemicals is designed to last no more than a half hour. However, this flight or fight reaction is repeatedly
being activated by the excessive demands of school and work, by political and
economic instability, and the bombardment of nonstop social media and screen
time. The rate of reported stress and
anxiety seems to be increasing in our culture, especially among teens.
Stress and
anxiety can cause any number of mental health issues, which can in turn lead to
physical health issues (for instance substance abuse and heart disease). Ideally,
what should happen is that one portion of our nervous system receives a message
from the Vagus Nerve and naturally applies the brakes to emergency messages of
stress. Our bodies and minds then smoothly
return to the healthy activities of digesting food, healing injuries, and
processing experiences after a stressful event.
But, instead, a stressful reaction that is supposed to last mere minutes
before being drained out by physical exertion is lasting for hours, days,
weeks, even months. This is damaging to
our bodies. Instead of returning to a
calm state, we get stuck in knee-jerk reactions to our lives and world.
New studies show
that by practicing Mindfulness, we can help trigger the Vagus Nerve to initiate
this restful and digestive counter reaction in our bodies. We can de-stress by slowing our breathing
rate and focusing our attention. When we
do this, our Vagus Nerve notes that things must be calm and sends a message
allowing our reptilian brain to relax. The
ability to locate and work with our Vagus Nerve is just as effective in calming
our mind and body as taking a sedative.
When our nervous system relaxes, and is in balance, we are capable of
deeper thought. Your child has learned
to call this deeper, creative thinking which occurs in our pre-frontal cortex
as their wise WIZARD BRAIN.
In addition, researchers
have found that when we think about someone or something we truly appreciate;
our heart rate slows. The feelings that
come with GRATITUDE trigger calm in our Nervous System. This week during BrainWise lessons, children
paused to remember people, animals, and places that they are grateful for. They touched the Vagus Nerve which runs from their
heart to their stomach while breathing deeply and reflecting on their happy
memories. McCullough et al., (2001)
found that children who practice daily self-guided exercises in gratitude have
higher levels of alertness, enthusiasm, determination, attentiveness, and
energy.
So, it is fitting
that during the month of November, as our nation celebrates the Thanksgiving
Holiday, we too will practice being grateful and recognizing the mental,
physical health, and educational benefits of this regular practice.
** Thanks to
Anne Green, author of The Science of Your Center: The Vagus Nerve, Your
Meditation Highway, and the Parasympathetic Nervous System; How Meditation
Works Positively on the Body.
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