Map Your Healing Journey

I had been struggling over a few days with nausea. There were no other symptoms, so I knew that I wasn’t sick.

And then I remembered the “second brain.”

Emotions are Energy That Needs to Move | Map Your Healing Journey

Our gut is part of our nervous system known as the enteric nervous system (ENS), made up of nerves and neurotransmitters that extend along the entire digestive tract. The same kind of neurons and neurotransmitters located in the central nervous system line the esophagus, the stomach and intestines, and the anus. Researchers refer to the ENS as our “second brain,” which communicates with the rest of our bodies.

What does my gut – my ENS – like to hold on to?

Emotions. Suddenly, the nausea made sense.

The Body Stores Stuck Emotions

We have thousands of emotions per day. Thousands. Have you ever felt a sensation in your body and were unable to figure out what caused it or what it’s called? That experience is an emotion.

Our bodies sense emotions first, taking in information and cues from people and surroundings. I might feel tightness in my chest and “butterflies” in my stomach, which could indicate anxiety or excitement (the physiology is the same).

Our brains turn these physical sensations (emotions) into feelings, because our brains’ job is to make meaning. Sometimes we grab onto the story that our brains start telling us and run with it, jumping into a spiral that inevitably goes down, down, down.

What if – instead of getting all wrapped up in the story spirals that our brains create – we focused on moving the emotional energy through our bodies?

Questions to Ask About Emotional Energy

Emotional movement is important because sometimes this energy gets stuck. Once I remembered the “second brain,” I realized that my gut had stored up stress from the last couple of weeks and I hadn’t been able to let it go.

We are all different, and our trauma and grief experiences can be vastly different. What helps me move emotional energy might not work for you based on past experiences, triggers, and preferences. However, these questions can help determine what kind of movement strategies would be helpful for releasing emotional energy.

Does this energy need movement or rest?
What strategies have you tried before to move this emotional energy that haven’t worked?
What emotional movement strategies have worked in the past?
Are there activities that you haven’t tried yet that seem interesting?
Would you like to be inside or outside?
Would being with other people help?

Emotional Energy & the Vagus Nerve

Nervous System with Vagus Nerve from Bodyworlds exhibit at OMSI in Portland, Oregon — The nervous system with the vagus nerve from Bodyworlds exhibit at OMSI in Portland, Oregon

The type of emotions that stick to our ribs aren’t the fun, happy kind. These challenging emotions and feelings need to be processed in some way so that they can move through.

Before we get to far into specific ways for emotional movement, let’s talk about the vagus nerve. If you have started PTSD Remediation with me, than you know that this technique activates the vagus nerve, which is known as the “wandering nerve” because it is present throughout the body. This nerve originates in the brain stem and through the face, neck, lungs, heart, diaphragm, and abdomen, including the stomach, spleen, intestines, colon, liver, and kidneys. This system stimulates the “rest and digest” part of the nervous system (the parasympathetic branch). The vagus nerve connects with nearly every physiological action in the human body.

There are many different ways to connect to the vagus nerve, which helps return our emotions to a regulated state. Many of the following techniques tap into and strengthen the vagus nerve – yes, we can strengthen it! Isn’t that cool? Plus, you can do these on your own, they cost nothing, and they are enjoyable.

How to Move Emotional Energy

There are many ways to move emotional energy – these are a few and off the top of my head.

Connect – making connections with people can improve our moods and remind us that we are not alone in this world. We can confide in safe people and allow the emotional energy to be shared and released.

Talk – Our brains believe what we tell say out loud. When we talk with others, we are able to process our emotions and feelings in a different way, and our brains believe what we express to someone else.

Sing – The vagus nerve connects to the vocal cords. Humming, singing, and making noises can feel really satisfying and calming.

Dance – Put on some music and go for it!

Create – I’m a writer, so creating is second-nature. However, I like to create in ways that are new to me, like painting.

Walk or Run or Skip – Skipping is hilarious. I dare you.

Exercise – Aerobic or strength training, by yourself or with people (I take classes because I find it difficult to motivate myself LOL), outside or in a gym, it all helps.

Play – If you have complex trauma like me, you likely don’t know how to play. This is common, and feels weird to start. I like to play with legos, because there’s structure and I do better with structure.

Laugh – Laughing changes your brain. And it’s not the same kind as the humor coping mechanism that I used to employ. I mean the intentional, pure, funny-bone tickling belly laughs.

Cry – Crying is vital. Sometimes I don’t even know why, I just need to cry.

Help Someone Else – This highly satisfying practice can help connect with people, boost your mood, help time management, and offer structure in days that can feel isolating.

No matter what we choose, it’s important to remember that emotions are energy. We have the power to move and release that energy as it appears.