Posted by stan_the_man70 on September 26, 2014, at 0:04:07
In reply to my next option, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, posted by Hello123 on September 17, 2014, at 14:57:14
(3:37) The more I feel compassion: the stronger the Vagus Nerve Response. The more I feel pride: the weaker the Vagus Nerve Response.(3:46) And this really astounds me, in that state of having a strong Vagus Nerve Response: I feel common Humanity with many different groups. I'm feeling connected to people of different political persuasions, different ethnic origins...
Picture
(4:24) Another way that we can study the role of the Vagus Nerve in compassion and the meaningful life and social well-being is find people who have really strong Vagus Nerves or high-levels of activation in that bundle of nerves. You can do it in the lab, you could come to my lab and we could give you a profile; and we think of this as a temperament.(4:51) I, as a joke, call these people 'Vagal Superstars.' But that's how people like to think about them and what we find is a really interesting profile.
Vagal Superstars:
-Increased positive emotion.
-More resilient response to bereavement.
-More sympathetic prosocial children.
-Trusted more in interactions with strangers.(5:00) If you have a really, strong Vagal Profile, which you can cultivate through exercise and recent studies suggest meditation, and other practices. If you have strong profile: you have more positive emotion on a daily basis, stronger relationships with peers, better social support networks.
When we are stressed, the Vagus Nerve relays epinephrine (adrenaline) into the bloodstream, which triggers the fight/flight stress response. According to the Harvard Medical School's Health Publication, 'Yoga for Anxiety and Depression,' there are many benefits to self-stimulation of the Vagus Nerve through various activities such as deep breathing exercises, mediation and Yoga.-Studies Suggest that this Practice [Yoga] Modulates the Stress Response:
"Since the 1970s, meditation and other stress-reduction techniques have been studied as possible treatments for depression and anxiety. One such practice, yoga, has received less attention in the medical literature, though it has become increasingly popular in recent decades. One national survey estimated, for example, that about 7.5% of U.S. adults had tried yoga at least once, and that nearly 4% practiced yoga in the previous year...
Available reviews of a wide range of yoga practices suggest they can reduce the impact of exaggerated stress responses and may be helpful for both anxiety and depression. In this respect, yoga functions like other self-soothing techniques, such as meditation, relaxation, exercise, or even socializing with friends."
-Taming the Stress Response:
"By reducing perceived stress and anxiety, yoga appears to modulate stress response systems. This, in turn, decreases physiological arousal for example, reducing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, and easing respiration. There is also evidence that yoga practices help increase heart rate variability, an indicator of the body's ability to respond to stress more flexibly...
A small but intriguing study further characterizes the effect of yoga on the stress response. In 2008, researchers at the University of Utah presented preliminary results from a study of varied participants' responses to pain. They note that people who have a poorly regulated response to stress are also more sensitive to pain."''
-Improved Mood and Functioning:
"Questions remain about exactly how yoga works to improve mood, but preliminary evidence suggests its benefit is similar to that of exercise and relaxation techniques...
One uncontrolled, descriptive 2005 study examined the effects of a single yoga class for inpatients at a New Hampshire psychiatric hospital. The 113 participants included patients with bipolar disorder, major depression, and schizophrenia. After the class, average levels of tension, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, and fatigue dropped significantly, as measured by the Profile of Mood States, a standard 65-item questionnaire that participants answered on their own before and after the class. Patients who chose to participate in additional classes experienced similar short-term positive effects."
-Cautions and Encouragement:
"Although many forms of yoga practice are safe, some are strenuous and may not be appropriate for everyone. In particular, elderly patients or those with mobility problems may want to check first with a clinician before choosing yoga as a treatment option...
But for many patients dealing with depression, anxiety, or stress, yoga may be a very appealing way to better manage symptoms. Indeed, the scientific study of yoga demonstrates that mental and physical health are not just closely allied, but are essentially equivalent. The evidence is growing that yoga practice is a relatively low-risk, high-yield approach to improving overall health."
Harvard Medical School. 'Yoga for Anxiety and Depression.' Harvard Health Publications - April 2009. Website.
References.
poster:stan_the_man70
thread:1071243
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20140914/msgs/1071512.html