The Vagus Nerve Reset by Anna Ferguson

The Vagus Nerve Reset
by Anna Ferguson

ISBN-13: 9780593689905
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Zeitgeist
Released: January 9, 2024

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Feeling anxious and disconnected are signs of a nervous system that’s out of balance. Something as small as a curt message from your boss can be perceived by your body as a threat—which triggers a change in your vagus nerve (a cranial nerve that runs from your brain to your abdomen). In The Vagus Nerve Reset , somatic therapist Anna Ferguson offers easy tools and exercises, grounded in the science of Polyvagal Theory, to help train your nervous system to stop overreacting and start responding more calmly to day-to-day stressors. By tuning in to your vagus nerve you can gently shape your nervous system to achieve greater resilience, improved sleep and digestion, relief from anxiety, and healing from past traumas.


My Review:
The Vagus Nerve Reset is a program designed to help with nervous system dysregulation. It's for someone who has experienced some trauma that left their nervous system stuck in flight/flight or in freeze. This leads to being physically out of whack and feeling overwhelmed when even little things go wrong. I was interested in the science and was disappointed that the author only described the nervous system and Polyvagal Theory in very simple, general terms. Back when my body was really out of whack, I learned about the vagus nerve and ways to help positively stimulate the vagus by watching and reading free information online. I didn't learn much new from this book.

The first third of the book was about the nervous system, the last third was glossary, index, and recommended resources, and the rest was her program. She recommends being aware of your body and moving it as a way to get well. The first step was to help you become more aware of your body, then she described some simple exercises and stretches to help reset the nervous system. Much of this section was encouraging the reader to really do each step and not get impatient with the process. There were no illustrations or diagrams, but most of the suggested activities sound simple enough to do just from written descriptions. Since my body got fired up (so I felt every little thing) rather than numbed sensation, which was her problem, I'm not really sure her journaling step would have even helped me. Her program may be helpful for some, though.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.