Tools to Activate Your Parasympathetic Response

• Cuddle up with a fluffy pet or stuffed animal

• Use the diving reflex (face in cold water for 30 seconds)

• Choose happy or self celebratory activities that help you feel calm and safe

• Jiggle to your favourite music (if you are very weak, you can do this lying down)

• Take a hot bath

• Go on a mini walk round the garden and find some lovely flowers to smell/gaze at

• Take your inner child on playdates... skip a little, pick daisies, dance in the living room, do a puzzle, make a drawing or finger painting

• Doing math sums (engage the pre-frontal cortex)

​Physical Distraction of calming sensations can also be helpful. Here are some you can use (you can also invent your own):​

• Move head side to side slowly, noticing everything your eyes see as you move

• Arm sweep, stroke one arm from tips of fingers to shoulder with the opposite hand

• Look at your toes wiggling!

• Cross over thumbs on chest. Lift one thumb up slowly then the other. Focus on the sensations

• Close one eye and look across at your nose, do the same on the other side

Invent your own :-)