FIVE QUESTIONS FOR UNDERSTANDING YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM

Letting go is a wild and messy process that requires us to release old stories, distractions, and the noise we carry so we can finally hear ourselves again. That inner quiet? It's not something you find by escaping the chaos, it’s what’s left when you stop clinging to it.

When your nervous system is shot—fried from constant stimulation, trauma, or just trying to keep up, it’s almost impossible to feel grounded. You’re living from the neck up, disconnected from the body that’s been trying to whisper the truth to you all along.

That’s where somatic work and spinal energetics come in. These aren’t just wellness buzzwords—they’re about learning to feel again, to come home to your body. It’s slow, it’s subtle, and sometimes it cracks you open in the best way. In that reconnection, we start to heal, soften, and remember who we are beneath the noise.

1. FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE

There are some simple techniques to relax the nervous system, such as limiting your screentime, going outside, drinking enough water, and placing your hand over your heart.

What stories or distractions have you noticed yourself holding onto, and how have they impacted your connection to your body?

What techniques have you found effective or that you are willing to try?

2. STATES OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Our bodies are wildly complex systems built to help us thrive. There are three states of the autonomic nervous system: ventral, sympathetic, and dorsal.

How do you identify which state you are in? Which somatic or energetic practices have you tried, and what shifts (if any) did you notice in your nervous system or emotions?

3. SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS AND EATING

Acceptance without embodiment is just a vision board. Societal expectations can impact the way you connect with your body’s wisdom for nourishment.

How do you navigate societal pressures when making decisions about your diet and self-care?

4. IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

One of the tools I recommend is the book, "The Body Keeps the Score."

What insights or experiences have you had with understanding the relationship between trauma and the nervous system? How has your relationship with your body changed over time, especially in the context of healing or releasing old trauma?

5. INNER QUIETNESS AND SELF-DISCOVERY

One of the most beneficial and important steps in creating a more regulated nervous system and finding inner peace is shedding past experiences.

How do you think this process can impact your mental and physical health in everyday life? What are some challenges you face when trying to slow down or listen to your body, and how do you navigate them?

For more, check out the previous episode of The Rachel LaForce Show, NERVOUS SYSTEM - PART 2 of “It’s Yours: The Business of Leveling Up + Overcoming Your Self-Sabotage.”

You can watch the full video on YouTube or listen here.