“It doesn’t matter what I eat – even water hurts me!”
Food reactivity has become one of the most common, and frustrating, health complaints – and a main reason people seek advice from health providers. The data gathering pathway for most practitioners include blood labs, stool tests, microbiome analysis, allergy treatments, dietary interventions and restrictions, and other protocols aimed at determining why the gut is not doing its job. Sound familiar? It can be a time consuming and expensive process with little result.
What’s missing? Perhaps we’re confusing effect with cause.
Could it be that we’re focused on the way the “program” is running and not paying attention to a glitch in the operating system? In other words, is the gut the issue or could it be the system behind the gut’s functioning?
The healthcare industry is bursting with information on the effect that stress has on the gut through the Autonomic Nervous System. A popular number of therapies have been developed with the idea of “rewiring” the brain to bring regulation back into the body. A sort of “brain to body” approach to resolving symptoms by looking at the limbic (emotional/survival/reactive) brain as a cause.
The Autonomic Nervous System is commonly divided into two pathways – the sympathetic response (fight, flight, freeze) and the parasympathetic (rest, digest, reproduce). It’s actually a bit more nuanced than that – but for the purpose of understanding gut response we’ll keep it simple.
Both pathways are important and necessary for our survival but can be problematic if one side dominates our responses to life. The sympathetic response requires adrenal hormones to take action – including cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine and others. These hormones are powerful and are meant for extreme responses like running from danger, defending ourselves from physical attack or saving a loved one from bodily harm.
All of these responses have to do with physical survival. Do something and do it quickly! They do not require analysis, critical thinking or logic. They are reactions – which are sometimes very necessary over “problem solving” in order to survive.
However, if these reactions become dominant then they can also become habits. When we begin to react to all perceived threats with a sympathetic response, using these powerful adrenal hormones, we are most likely going to experience the effects of chronic stress on our systems. And this becomes the underlying cause of our symptoms.
You can read more about this in this study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5476783/
And, I recommend watching this informative and entertaining video by a brilliant cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic who speaks directly to the effect of chronic cortisol on the immune response. You can watch that here: How the Vagus Nerve Heals Your Gut: The Key to Digestive Health and Healing
The Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is a “body to brain” approach for bringing balance back to the Autonomic Nervous System and reducing gut reactivity
Since I’ve started working with people to regulate the ANS to allow a more appropriate response to their stressors I have seen better results with their gut health! And it makes total sense when we understand the vital role of the Vagus Nerve when it comes to all of the systems in the body. The Safe & Sound Protocol, developed by Stephen Porges, PhD – resulted in the development of the Polyvagal Theory that you can read about in his book of the same name or learn more in this great video made by his son Seth Porges.
Seth Porges: The Polyvagal Theory: Our Polyvagal World Edition of The Science of Safety and Trauma
The SSP is not a “cure” or an overnight fix of our physical symptoms. In much the same way that committing to a particular way of eating or an exercise routine has to be incorporated into your lifestyle – the SSP is a tool in your tool kit for achieving balance in the system. And, ultimately that is what good health is – balance.
I have used the SSP, personally, for over 4 years now as my go to therapy for when life gets stressful and I need a reset. Holidays, family reunions, new jobs, life transitions, age-related changes, and other life experiences that can be perceived as threatening to our peace and security can throw us off balance. Research has shown that a single 24 hour period of stress may result in disruption of sleep, digestion, relationships, and has a profound effect on the gut by altering our microbiome!
If you would like to learn more about the SSP and how to integrate ANS regulation practices into your healthcare routine I offer a 30 minute complimentary consultation to discuss your personal concerns and how this often overlooked cause could be source of your unresolved symptoms. If you would like to know more please visit mariazilka.com and request your complimentary visit with me today.
I look forward to helping you have the best holiday season possible – eating, laughing, relaxing and enjoying all that is offered you.
Peace and health to all.
Maria