Nurturing Your Nervous System through Social Connection

Fibromyalgia / Nervous System / Social Connection

As you are probably aware one theory of the underlying cause of fibromyalgia and chronic illness is that our nervous system has become stuck in a flight, fight or freeze mode due to a complex reaction to stress and trauma.

That’s why I work with my clients to find multiple ways to calm and nurture their nervous system through my BEST holistic approach to managing fibromyalgia by focusing on their:

Body-physical well-being
Emotions-emotional well-being 
Social support- social well-being
Transcendence- spiritual well-being

I will be sharing a series of simple ways you can nourish your nervous system and help your body to relax.  Here, I’m focusing on social connection.

One of the things that contributes to social well-being and supports and calms the nervous system is spending time with loved ones. 

 

Research shows there are many benefits of strong social connections including: 

  1. stronger immune system, 
  2. decreased health risks 
  3. improvement of physical-well-being and longevity.
  4. lower rates of anxiety and depression
  5. higher self-esteem and self-compassion
  6. increased empathy
  7. better emotional regulation

 

Jennifer Riggs, at jenriggs.com, the creator of Pathways to Change notes that:

“Our brains and bodies are wired to connect.  Connection and belonging have helped us survive as a species. A community of people is much more likely to survive than an individual with no support from others. So, of course we have a need for social connection and belonging.”
 
However, when we don’t feel well it can be hard to maintain social connections but it is well worth the effort!
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