The "Trust Your Gut" Nerve
What does your gut tell you? Do you trust yours when something feels off? In some people, like sufferers of depression and anxiety, the gut may be sending signals they feel they can't trust, and a vital nerve that spans from the head to the stomach could hold the key.
Research shows that faulty communication in the vagus nerve, which runs between the gut and brain, could be to blame for some cases of depression and anxiety. Treatment with devices that stimulate the nerve may help in some extreme cases, but there are other ways that we can stimulate this nerve ourselves. Let's look at the ways this nerve rules our lives in ways we never imagined.
That Gut Feeling
If you’ve ever been nervous enough to feel it in your gut, then you’ve felt your vagus nerve in action. The vagus nerve starts in the brain and branches off into nearly every vital organ down to the stomach. This nerve is considered the body’s superhighway, sending signals that affect numerous systems in the body. Researchers are now learning that many of the chemicals used by the brain to control mood and other functions are manufactured in the gut, and the vagus nerve is their means of travel. That's right, they are thinking that our mood and mental wellbeing starts not in our brains as previously believed but in our guts.
Role in Anxiety and Depression
There is growing evidence that issues with the vagus nerve could be a major factor in the development of anxiety and depression. The connection is so great that vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), a procedure sometimes used to treat epilepsy and other neurological conditions has been approved to treat depression. VNS entails the surgical implantation of a device much like a pacemaker, which sends electrical signals to stimulate the nerve. If this sounds extreme, it probably is for many people. And, since it's new, the success rate isn't as startling as we'd iek to see before recommending it. But even so, the work of the vagus nerve is still under study and the findings are actually really exciting. So if a stimulator is out, what can we do ourselves?
Calm the Vagus Nerve
Fortunately, there are other ways to stimulate the vagus nerve. One way, according to Psychology Today, is to take slow, deep breaths. Diaphragmatic breathing has long been a relaxation practice in yoga and other Eastern philosophies so it's not surprising that it helps people. But the vagus nerve may be why it works. And that is new information.
The International Journal of Integrative Psychotherapy reports on the emotional benefits of combining yoga, meditation, deep breathing and talk therapy. Another study shows acupuncture, along with iRest, a form of mindfulness developed for the military that combines deep breathing and guided meditation, can significantly reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression in veterans. Research on iRest using college students has yielded similar results.
New research around the vagus nerve could open new avenues to wellbeing and regulating the lines of communication between the gut and brain could well lead to incredible breakthroughs for people with depression and anxiety. In the meantime, we can calm this nerve ourselves and seek out more information on managing the communication that's taking place over this superhighway. Consider learning more about iRest and other mindfulness practices that integrate deep breathing as a great place to start.
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