What is Havening? & Why is nervous system resetting useful for Stress, anxiety & reducing trauma?
The nervous system exercise called "Havening" was developed by two brothers, Dr. Ronald Ruden and Dr. Steven Ruden. They combined their expertise in neuroscience, psychology, and medicine to create this technique.
Havening works by using a combination of touch and visualisation to help calm the nervous system and reduce stress or anxiety. The word "haven" actually means a safe place, and the goal of havening is to create a sense of safety and comfort within ourselves.
During havening, you typically start by rubbing or stroking your own arms, face, or hands, using a specific pattern and gentle touch. This touch triggers the release of calming chemicals in the brain called endorphins. As you continue the touch, you are guided to certain visualisations to calm your nervous system.
The combination of the touch and visualisation helps to create new neural pathways in the brain, which can lead to a reduction in the intensity of negative emotions. It essentially helps your brain rewire itself to respond differently.
Havening can be used for various purposes, such as managing anxiety, reducing trauma-related symptoms, improving sleep, and enhancing overall well-being. It's always a good idea to learn and practise havening techniques under the guidance of a trained professional to ensure you are using it effectively and safely.
Harmonizing Mind and Body: The Profound Benefits of Resetting Your Nervous System using Eye Movements, Touch, Visualization, and Conscious Breathing
Introduction:
In our fast-paced, stress-filled lives, finding balance and inner calm has become more important than ever. Thankfully, there are powerful techniques available to reset our nervous system, allowing us to restore equilibrium and promote overall well-being. Integrating various modalities such as eye movements, touch, visualisation, and conscious breathing can yield remarkable results. This blog explores the synergistic benefits of utilising all these modalities together to reset your nervous system and achieve a profound state of tranquillity.
1. Calming the Mind and Body:
The combined use of eye movements, touch, visualization, and conscious breathing has a synergistic effect on calming the mind and body. Eye movements, such as EMDR, stimulate bilateral brain activity, facilitating the processing of negative emotions and traumatic experiences. Simultaneously, incorporating touch, such as gentle tapping or self-massage, activates pressure points and releases tension, promoting relaxation in both the physical and mental realms. Visualization further enhances this process by guiding the mind towards positive imagery, reinforcing a state of tranquility and peace.
2. Enhancing Mental Clarity and Focus:
Resetting your nervous system through the integration of eye movements, touch, visualization, and conscious breathing can significantly improve mental clarity and focus. Eye movements, like the Bates Method or eye yoga exercises, increase blood flow to the brain, enhancing visual perception and cognitive function. Complementing this with touch, such as using a stress ball or applying pressure to specific points, stimulates the nervous system and heightens alertness. Visualization techniques further sharpen focus by channeling the mind's attention to a specific goal or intention. Conscious breathing acts as the glue that binds these modalities together, grounding the mind and promoting mental clarity.
3. Stress Relief and Emotional Well-being:
Combining all these modalities offers profound stress relief and promotes emotional well-being. Conscious breathing triggers the body's relaxation response, reducing stress hormones and inducing a state of calm. Eye movements, touch, and visualization work in harmony to release emotional tension and reprogram the brain's response to stressors. By integrating these techniques, you create a comprehensive approach to emotional healing and resilience, allowing you to manage stress more effectively and cultivate a positive emotional state.
4. Cultivating Mind-Body Connection:
Resetting your nervous system using these modalities fosters a deeper mind-body connection. The combination of eye movements, touch, visualization, and conscious breathing allows you to synchronize your physical and mental states, creating a holistic sense of well-being. This connection enhances self-awareness, intuition, and the ability to respond consciously to life's challenges. By resetting your nervous system regularly, you strengthen this mind-body connection, leading to greater self-acceptance, self-compassion, and overall contentment.
Conclusion:
Incorporating eye movements, touch, visualization, and conscious breathing into your routine offers a comprehensive approach to resetting your nervous system and achieving a state of balance and inner calm. The combination of these modalities delivers a synergistic effect, providing benefits such as calming the mind and body, enhancing mental clarity and focus, relieving stress, and promoting emotional well-being. By cultivating a strong mind-body connection through these practices, you empower yourself to navigate life's ups and downs with grace and resilience. Embrace the power of these modalities, and embark on a transformative journey towards optimal well-being.