When we are too stressed, the Dorsal Vagas nerve can shut down the entire system and we go into freeze. Like in trauma and shame, which is developmental trauma. The Ventral or front Vagus Nerve goes directly to the muscles of the face and helps determine expression and is active in social engagement. Dorsal and Ventral need to be in balance. Social engagement - or attachment behavior - is a way to prevent and come out of freeze.
Chronically elevated cortisol levels are exceptionally bad for your health. This problem is associated with hormone imbalance, elevated blood sugar levels, cardiovascular disease, elevated cholesterol levels, and also adrenal exhaustion. An additional annoying problem is the storage of fat around your waist.
"First of all, the stress hormone cortisol plays an important role. This hormone is produced when the body experiences stress and causes an increased appetite. So when you suffer from stress, you feel hungry more often and start eating more. In people who are exposed to long-term stress, cortisol levels are constantly too high, so they always struggle with a (too) high appetite."
Breathe low if you have trouble with that. Sometimes it's because of tension that's locked under your heart, around your diaphragm.
Trauma results from an overwhelming event and from prolonged stress. Trauma means "wound. Long-term stress also causes both physical and emotional wounds. Animals instinctively process an overwhelming event. We humans are not very good at that (anymore) and continue to put unnecessary tension in our bodies. Resulting physical complaints, grinding thoughts and sleep disorders, to name a few.
