“Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much.”

-Hellen Keller

 The journey to improved health shouldn’t be traveled alone–we invite you to expand and nurture our collective healing community in 2023!

Collaborative healing is a concept near and dear to our hearts here at Pain Free For Life. In fact, it’s rooted in science that has been making waves in the medical and mental health worlds for years now. But what does collective healing look like, and how can we tap into its power? Today we’re talking about Polyvagal Theory, a powerful concept to help you overcome physical and mental trauma.

Let’s dive into the core tenets of Polyvagal Theory and explore how it can help you heal!

What is Polyvagal Theory?

Simply put, Polyvagal Theory suggests that socialization helps us heal from physical or emotional trauma. But if we go into a “freeze” state and don’t talk about our pain, we’ll remain stuck in a dangerous pain-brain spiral. This “frozen” state occurs when our Vagus nerve sends signals to the body telling it to shut down due to fear or stress. This is also known as having a high-tone vagal response.

It’s important to note that this isn’t just a psychological concept–actual physiological changes happen within the body when you experience emotional or physical trauma. When the Vagus nerve senses danger or threat, the body goes into fight-or-flight mode or shuts down entirely–a high-tone reaction. In contrast, when we experience safety and security, our bodies enter rest-and-digest mode–a low-tone response.

The Benefits of Collaborative Healing

The good news is that by engaging in collaborative healing (the process of being open with others about our stories of trauma), we can begin to regulate our own nervous system responses with the support of another person. By doing this, we can become aware of what triggers us mentally and physically so that we can find better tools to manage our pain.

What does collaborative healing look like?

• Talk with your doctor or therapist about your physical or mental pain.
• Discuss your feelings with family and friends after experiencing an emotionally traumatic event like losing a loved one or work.
• If you are a health professional, collaborative healing may look like participating in summits, guesting on podcasts, leading training webinars, collaborating on studies, consulting with other healthcare providers, and more. It’s all about finding opportunities that allow you to grow and improve your healing network.

No matter what type of trauma you’ve experienced, engaging in collaborative healing can help you move through it more quickly while still honoring your story along the way.

The Pain Free for Life Partner Program

Getting treatment for trauma is complex. Luckily, we have some great options to share today that will help you put the ideas behind Polyvagal Theory into practice! The first thing is something we’re incredibly proud of. And that’s Pain Free For Life Partnership Program.

Check Out the Partner Program Today!

We created the Pain Free for Life Partner Program to reward individuals, marketing professionals, and providers who spread the word and grow healing communities surrounding our all-natural pain solutions. This is just one way to expand your healing community and build collaborative relationships that foster lasting relief.

We connect through groups, pain resolution jumpstarts, summits, the Pain Free For Life Podcast, the support group, and so many other ways. When they say it takes a village, they really mean it. With our Partner Program, there are three different levels to choose from, so anyone who’d like to participate can.

All the details are linked right here

Ok, now on to some additional ways to improve vagal tone…

Non-Invasive Microcurrent Vagus Nerve Stimulation

My #1 go-to is ALWAYS non-invasive microcurrent Vagus nerve stimulation. This technique uses a microcurrent device to deliver low levels of electricity to specific areas along the length of the nerve.

This type of energy medicine is safe and effective in improving overall health by activating the body’s natural healing mechanisms. In fact, I wrote my entire doctorate thesis on this topic!

Learn how to perform non-invasive Vagus nerve stimulation in the short training below:

Keep an eye out—we will publish a blog about Microcurrent Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Inflammation later this month.

Trigger Beta (Fight or Flight Mode)

Another excellent option for improving vagal tone is triggering Beta. This treatment requires using specific microcurrent frequencies to bring your body into fight or flight mode. However, if you are already living with adrenal fatigue, triggering Beta may not be the right choice for you as it could further exacerbate symptoms. If your device does not have Beta mode available, then you can set it to FM RSI frequencies, which are similar in effect.

Gargling, Singing, Cold Showers & Group Talk Therapy

Finally, some other techniques people swear by to improve vagal tone include:

• Gargling warm salt water
• Singing loudly to stimulate the nerves near their vocal cords
• Taking cold showers
• Joining a Pain Resolution Support Group
• Engaging in group talk therapy sessions

Whatever route you choose, I hope you keep the intention of expanding your healing community always at the forefront. It’s a big part of your recovery. If you have any questions or need any help, reach out today at 1-888-758-0851.