A woman in her mid-30s went to see Dr. Priyal Modi, integrative medicine practitioner. She was navigating major life transitions, including the loss of a parent, the end of a long-term relationship, and work-related stress. She decided to take a sabbatical to reassess her path but felt isolated and depressed, and her thoughts were consumed by self-criticism and rumination.
“She had been prescribed antidepressants but was struggling with side effects like constant tremors, staggered speech, and an inability to sit still,” said Modi.
They began weekly breathwork sessions, introduced supplements, and focused on creating awareness around the mental loops and narratives she had been reinforcing.
Many mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, often stem from a dysregulated nervous system. The vagus nerve plays a key role in restoring emotional balance.
How Vagus Nerve Stimulation Supports Mood
The vagus nerve forms the main communication pathway between the brain and body, affecting mood, emotional regulation, and resilience to stress.
Stimulating the vagus nerve—either by natural or mechanical means—helps reduce the body’s production of stress hormones like cortisol and increases the release of calming neurotransmitters, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Enhanced vagal tone (or vagus nerve function) can also lead to less inflammation, which is often elevated in conditions like depression and anxiety, Jodi Duval, an Australian-based naturopathic physician with over 15 years of experience and owner of Revital Health, told The Epoch Times.
Being in fight-or-flight is vital in life-threatening situations, but when we are in a prolonged state of stress or our stress response is constantly triggered by perceived threats or everyday emotional challenges, our mood and state of mind will be affected, Modi explained.
“In such states, our cognitive function declines, emotions become unregulated and reactive, and mental health takes a knock, often leading to burnout, anxiety, and depression. Even our interpretation of social cues can be thrown off,” she added.
Some of the earliest findings on the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) came from studies examining its effects on people experiencing partial seizures. Researchers initially used VNS to control seizures but observed improvements in patients’ mental health as an unexpected side effect.
After three months of VNS therapy, participants showed increased levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), an indication of serotonin activity in the body. This suggested that VNS enhances serotonin activity in the brain.
In addition to these changes, they also reported improvements in quality of life, including better emotional adjustment, enhanced social functioning, and an overall improved sense of well-being. This is likely due to the vagus nerve’s connection with brain regions that regulate mood.
Since then, VNS has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression. The antidepressant effects of VNS are typically observed over several months, with long-lasting benefits.
Breath and Sensory Awareness
Mind-body interventions such as slow breathing, gentle scratching, and meditation are powerful ways to stimulate the vagus nerve.
“Slow, controlled breathing helps activate the vagus nerve quickly, promoting a calm, grounded state,” Duval said. “I also encourage patients to make these techniques part of a regular routine, as building long-term habits amplifies the mental health benefits over time. Integrating these practices can provide both immediate calming effects and ongoing emotional resilience, supporting mental well-being on multiple levels.”
Modi agreed. “By changing how we breathe, we can create new neural pathways in the brain, enhancing neuroplasticity. This empowers people to take control of their health and navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience.”
Another method that can help regulate the nervous system is anything that provides a pleasant sensory experience. For example, exposure to hot or cold stimuli, like a warm shower or a cold drink, can help create a calming effect. Sensory activities like splashing your face with water, covering up with a weighted blanket, standing barefoot on the grass, or even engaging in comforting touches like a tight hug or back-scratching can all help soothe the nervous system.
Lidalize Grobler, an educational psychologist, shared an example of sensory awareness at work.
“I worked with a 7-year-old girl who struggled with severe anxiety, frequent panic attacks, and intense tantrums. Her parents initially viewed her as simply ‘difficult,’ but it became clear that her nervous system was highly dysregulated and prone to becoming overwhelmed. The first step was understanding how quickly she became dysregulated and addressing the underlying reason for her behavior. Before anything else, we needed to help her nervous system find calm. We experimented with several approaches, but the most effective turned out to be a simple act: scratching her back.”
Scratching the 7-year-old’s back had an immediate calming effect, helping her become more reflective and open to the next steps. She would even recognize her limits, often saying, “Thank you, this is enough,” before moving forward. This approach helped her regulate her nervous system and respond to the world with greater ease, Grobler explained.
“Don’t try to think yourself out of a dysregulated state—it’s a body thing,” Grobler emphasized.
That said, it’s important to address the underlying issue that caused the dysregulation in the first place, she added. We shouldn’t use regulation techniques to distract ourselves from what’s happening. However, VNS will help bring you back to a more balanced state, allowing you to think clearly.
“This enables you to address the conflict from a regulated place rather than from a place of dysregulation,” Grobler explained.
Regulated and Reconnected
By the 10th session, the transformation in Modi’s patient in her mid-30s was striking. She was calm and composed, with an open posture, and her tremors and speech issues had disappeared.
She improved communication and boundaries with her mother, started a new romantic relationship, and engaged in hobbies and social activities. With gradual and careful support, she was also able to taper off her medication and address the dependency she had developed.
“Today, she is thriving, using the breathing techniques she learned to manage her emotions and reconnect with her body. She’s happy, self-aware, and in tune with her needs,” Modi shared.
Recent Comments