To my mind, the mainstream definition of resilience seems to paint a picture of the glory of soldiering on, no matter what, during tough times. To me that’s not resilience. Learning to do the best we can with the nervous system we have, and using regulation and resources to minimise the harm that stress and trauma can have on us – that’s true resilience.
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In a nutshell
In The Nervous System Reset, physiotherapist and neurophysiology expert Jessica Maguire unpacks how a dysregulated nervous system can be the root cause of emotional, digestive and physical issues. She explains how the vagus nerve is the key to resetting and regulating the nervous system and provides a toolkit on improving vagal tone.
Book Club Notes
The Nervous System reset is easy to read and nicely set out in two parts:
Part One focuses on education –providing a foundation and framework
Part Two focuses on the toolkit –showing you how to reset your nervous system.
Learning about your nervous system gives you the ability to take a step back during life’s intense moments and change the trajectory of how these events affect you both physically and emotionally.
This book teaches you autonomic awareness, the ability to tune into your bodily signals and identify which of the three primary states you’re in. Once you’ve done that, this book sets out to teach you how to move yourself back to your comfortable set point.
So what are these primary states?
The Three primary nervous system states
The Just Right State
This is referred to as the ventral vagal state, and it is the state when everything feels just-right. During this state you feel at home within yourself, relaxed and your emotional and physical systems are working optimally. It’s the state we aim to be in most of the time.
The Too hot state
This is referred to as the sympathetic state, and it is one we shift into quickly because it’s our emergency state. It’s the state we’re in when we have a fight-or-flight response. There is both an emotional and physical intensity to this state. During this state we can feel tense, on edge, fearful, anxious and worried.
The Too cold State
This is referred to as the dorsal vagal state, and it is the state where we shift into energy conservation. During this state we can feel immobilised and disconnected from our body and environment, energy zapped, hopeless, depressed, exhausted and numb.
I really enjoyed learning about the nervous system states and I was immediately able to apply some regulating tools when I found myself in a fiery, too-hot state. I also took great pleasure in diagnosing the nervous system states my siblings were in. Surprisingly the reaction I got to saying “You’re stuck in a too cold state”, “You’re in a too hot state” wasn’t eye rolls and irritation, but rather “Do I need to read that book?” Yes, you do.
Read If
You want to learn about your nervous system and how to regulate stress and pain.
Rating
Writing – 8/10
Applicability – 10/10
Timelessness – 10/10
Shareability – 10/10
The Nitty Gritty
Published by: Bluebird, an imprint of Pan Macmillan
Genre: Non-Fiction, Health, Self Help
ISBN: 978-1035023387
Pages: 312
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A note on our book ratings
Readability: How easy is it to read and understand what the author is saying? Do you need a dictionary or PhD to understand it?
Writing: How well written is the book? Do you find yourself wowed by the writing or unimpressed?
Applicability: How applicable is this book to daily life? Is there enough advice and actions that are easy to start applying?
Timelessness: Is the content of the book timeless or is it something that in a few years won’t have relevance?
Shareability: How likely are you to share the book?
