When the world gets too loud, my body lets me know long before my mind catches up. Maybe you know that feeling too—the pulse quickens, shoulders tighten, your skin buzzes as if it’s been plugged into a socket. For me, it’s usually after an evening in Brighton: friends, parties, too many bodies packed into small rooms, lights flashing, laughter bouncing against walls. I love it, until suddenly I don’t. Overstimulation arrives like a tide, and I’m left raw and humming.
That’s when I turn to the vagus nerve—the quiet thread of connection running from brain to belly, whispering safety when the world feels like too much. The vagus nerve is like a reset switch. It tells the body: you can soften now, you are safe. Learning to soothe it has been life-shifting for me.
Here are a few gentle ways I practice:
1. Slow humming.
A sound that vibrates in your throat sends a direct, soothing message along the vagus nerve. Sometimes I hum tunelessly on the bus home, letting the vibration settle me.
2. Cold water.
Splashing cool water on my face or holding a chilled glass against my skin jolts me back into my body in a grounding way.
3. Long exhale breathing.
Inhale soft and easy, but make the exhale twice as long. This tips the nervous system towards rest.
4. Gentle touch.
Placing my palm on my chest or tracing slow circles around my temples. A reminder to myself: I’m here, I’m safe.
5. Quiet corners.
Sometimes, the best medicine is simply stepping outside into night air, away from music and chatter, letting silence wrap itself around me.
The vagus nerve thrives on signals of calm, connection, and presence. And when I remember to listen, I find that overstimulation isn’t an enemy—it’s just my body asking for a softer rhythm.
If the party leaves you buzzing, try offering your vagus nerve a little kindness. You might be surprised how quickly it thanks you.
Nimblelimbs 