Episode 201: Clinician’s Corner - Nervous System Regulation in UPF Addiction Recovery
🎧 Clinicians Corner on Nervous System Regulation in Food Addiction Recovery 🎧
💡 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.
🎯 Remember
Consistency, not perfection, is key! Practicing these tools regularly makes it easier to access them during high-stress moments. We invite you to share your topic suggestions with us! Please email us at foodjunkiespodcast@gmail.com.
Connect with Molly and Clarissa
Website: https://www.sweetsobriety.ca Email: Info@sweetsobriety.ca
The content of our show is educational only. It does not supplement or supersede your healthcare provider's professional relationship and direction. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, substance use disorder, or mental health concern.