When Forcing Yourself Doesn't Work Anymore

The pressure that motivates achievement can be the same pressure that blows us apart. Caeleb Dressel, a 7-time gold medalist, fought the pressure—until fighting didn't work anymore.

The pressure that motivates achievement can be the same pressure that blows us apart. Caeleb Dressel, a 7-time gold medalist, fought the pressure—until fighting didn't work anymore.

Why Bullying Leads to Burnout

Are you suffering from burnout? Research shows that feeling threatened is draining, whereas safety is utterly vital for an energized brain and body.

Are you suffering from burnout? Research shows that feeling threatened is draining, whereas safety is utterly vital for an energized brain and body.

How the Polyvagal Theory Inspired My Parenting

Polyvagal theory inspires an appreciation of the impact of my nonverbal cues and emotional practices on nurturing cues of safety and calm in my children.

Polyvagal theory inspires an appreciation of the impact of my nonverbal cues and emotional practices on nurturing cues of safety and calm in my children.

The Neuroscience of Negotiation

Many have an intuitive sense of how to communicate effectively, but few look at the science of why.

Many have an intuitive sense of how to communicate effectively, but few look at the science of why.

Reframing Trauma Healing: The Toolbox Approach

Let's reframe trauma healing and consider the tools we can gather to help heal.

Let's reframe trauma healing and consider the tools we can gather to help heal.

Better Blood Pressure Is at the Tip of Your Nose

Breathing is a critical function of body and brain. Breathing down from your nose to your toes improves parasympathetic tone and reduces cardiovascular stress.

Breathing is a critical function of body and brain. Breathing down from your nose to your toes improves parasympathetic tone and reduces cardiovascular stress.

Three Steps to Healing Shame (and Trauma)

Shame binds with everything, including trauma. But, if it is recognized and explored, it can be gently unbound and healed. Here are three ways to begin the healing process.

Shame binds with everything, including trauma. But, if it is recognized and explored, it can be gently unbound and healed. Here are three ways to begin the healing process.

New Research Shows Reduced Serotonin in Long COVID

Serotonin reduction may be behind Long COVID's neurocognitive symptoms.

Serotonin reduction may be behind Long COVID's neurocognitive symptoms.

Surprising Ways the Vagus Nerve Activates During Exercise

A new study shows how during exercise, vagus nerve activity increases and enhances coronary blood flow.

A new study shows how during exercise, vagus nerve activity increases and enhances coronary blood flow.

How You Can Tame a Raging Fight-or-Flight Response

Learn how to navigate a fierce fight-or-flight response and target stress, anxiety, and panic in real time to reverse the cascade and re-establish homeostasis.

Learn how to navigate a fierce fight-or-flight response and target stress, anxiety, and panic in real time to reverse the cascade and re-establish homeostasis.

The Microbiome Conundrum

It can be tricky teasing apart cause and effect between the gut microbiome and the immune system. But you can still steer it in a healthy direction. Here's how.

It can be tricky teasing apart cause and effect between the gut microbiome and the immune system. But you can still steer it in a healthy direction. Here's how.

How My Vacation Was a Model for Living a Peaceful Life

A Personal Perspective: Practices for a calm body and mind.

A Personal Perspective: Practices for a calm body and mind.

Approaching Difficult Conversations, the Polyvagal Way

Understanding communication patterns through the lens of polyvagal theory helps foster skillful, compassionate conversations.

Understanding communication patterns through the lens of polyvagal theory helps foster skillful, compassionate conversations.

An Owner's Guide to the Vagus Nerve

Learning to understand your vagus nerve can help you physically, emotionally, and in your relationships with others.

Learning to understand your vagus nerve can help you physically, emotionally, and in your relationships with others.

An Antidote to Anger

Do you need a new tool to manage anger and other intense emotions? Try this 3-step formula to "cool off" and effectively experience and express emotion.

Do you need a new tool to manage anger and other intense emotions? Try this 3-step formula to "cool off" and effectively experience and express emotion.

The Essential Vagus Nerve

The power of our trauma response lies in the power of our biology. Polyvagal theory explains why.

The power of our trauma response lies in the power of our biology. Polyvagal theory explains why.

A Tool for Settling the Mind

Finding creative ways to approach regulation and mindfulness can make a difference in our ability to use these skills in the moment.

Finding creative ways to approach regulation and mindfulness can make a difference in our ability to use these skills in the moment.

4 Reasons Why Time Spent With a Dog Feels So Good

That sense of joy you get when greeted at the door by your dog? Polyvagal theory explains why it feels so good.

That sense of joy you get when greeted at the door by your dog? Polyvagal theory explains why it feels so good.

Safety Through the Self-Care Lens

Are fear and stress wreaking havoc on your physical and mental health? Here are 10 ways to help your body feel safe with self-care.

Are fear and stress wreaking havoc on your physical and mental health? Here are 10 ways to help your body feel safe with self-care.

5 Ways to Care for the Most Important Nerve In Your Body

Here are some ways to restore your sense of calm during stressful situations.

Here are some ways to restore your sense of calm during stressful situations.

Just Sigh—It’s a Restorative Outbreath

By consciously sighing, we can apply the power of our own outbreath to access how we feel in the moment or to restore body and mind, simply and mindfully.

By consciously sighing, we can apply the power of our own outbreath to access how we feel in the moment or to restore body and mind, simply and mindfully.

How Longer Exhalations and Cyclic Sighing Make Us Feel Good

New research sheds light on how spending 5 minutes a day doing exhale-focused breathwork can lower stress and enhance mood.

New research sheds light on how spending 5 minutes a day doing exhale-focused breathwork can lower stress and enhance mood.

3 Simple and Science-Backed Strategies for Reducing Stress

The next time you experience stress, try these three simple strategies and notice what happens.

The next time you experience stress, try these three simple strategies and notice what happens.

Why Anger Is Nothing More Than Repressed Anxiety

However unconsciously, many people “mutate” their out-of-control anxiety into anger, as anger creates the illusion of regaining control of the situation.

However unconsciously, many people “mutate” their out-of-control anxiety into anger, as anger creates the illusion of regaining control of the situation.

Polyvagal Theory—Useful Narrative but Still Just a Theory

Polyvagal Theory is the latest in a long string of psychological fads that are popularized in advance of strong empirical data. Here are the potential benefits and drawbacks of using PVT.

Polyvagal Theory is the latest in a long string of psychological fads that are popularized in advance of strong empirical data. Here are the potential benefits and drawbacks of using PVT.

What Happens in Vagus

Is stress working your (10th) nerve? Simple vagus nerve manipulation approaches can offer relief.

Is stress working your (10th) nerve? Simple vagus nerve manipulation approaches can offer relief.

Conquer Anxiety With This Simple but Powerful Brain Hack

Overcome anxiety by using neuroscience to hit "ctrl-alt-delete" on a locked-up fight, flight, or freeze response.

Overcome anxiety by using neuroscience to hit "ctrl-alt-delete" on a locked-up fight, flight, or freeze response.

3 Ways Your Gut Microbiome Controls Your Mind

Here's how bugs in your gut can alter your thoughts and mood.

Here's how bugs in your gut can alter your thoughts and mood.

Body-Based Conceptualization of Eating Disorders

Using polyvagal-informed therapies, I now see eating disorder symptoms more clearly and compassionately.

Using polyvagal-informed therapies, I now see eating disorder symptoms more clearly and compassionately.

Your Brain Relies on Your Heart for More Than Blood

The heart does much more than deliver oxygen and essential nutrients to the body. It helps the brain generate many essential psychological functions.

The heart does much more than deliver oxygen and essential nutrients to the body. It helps the brain generate many essential psychological functions.