The nervous system is the body’s hard-wired tool for survival. When we experience danger, threat, fear, etc, the autonomic nervous system gets triggered and activates an adaptive response to get us back to safety. This is referred to as an “autonomic” because it happens involuntarily and often unconsciously. These unconscious processes throughout the body are essential for controlling even the most basic biological systems such as breathing and your heart beating. A key to maintaining health and wellbeing is creating a balance between being activated and being deactivated (sympathetic vs parasympathetic). While the body naturally seeks to achieve this balance, it may require conscious intervention and guidance. This is where a daily examen can provide tremendous benefit, especially after a stressful day or experiencing significant triggers.
Before reading through the prompts, get comfortable and try to check-in with yourself. Take a deep breath, notice what’s happening in your body and relax yourself. Maintain a mindful brain that is caring, curious, accepting, and observing to get the most out of this exercise. Thank you for caring for yourself!
* The information provided is for self-enrichment and not intended to replace any necessary mental health treatment.
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Warmly,
Jonathan Dixon, LMFT
Alpha Omega
