DeepSummary
This podcast episode features a conversation between Krista Tippett and Christine Runyan, a clinical psychologist, about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the human nervous system. Runyan explains how the prolonged stress and social isolation have dysregulated our nervous systems, leading to physical and mental health issues. She provides insights into how our bodies react to threats and offers strategies for self-awareness and self-compassion to help regulate the nervous system.
Runyan discusses the physiological effects of the pandemic, such as increased fatigue, impaired focus, and numbing behaviors like excessive internet use or alcohol consumption. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing these as normal responses to the extraordinary circumstances and allowing ourselves to feel and process the grief and loss associated with the pandemic.
Throughout the conversation, Runyan shares practical techniques for calming the nervous system, such as deep breathing, sensory engagement, and self-touch. She highlights the essential role of human connection and community in healing and encourages listeners to cultivate compassion and love, even in challenging times.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The COVID-19 pandemic has dysregulated the human nervous system, leading to physical and mental health issues.
- Prolonged stress and social isolation have had a profound impact on our nervous systems, leading to increased fatigue, impaired focus, and numbing behaviors.
- Self-awareness, self-compassion, and intentional choice are crucial for regulating the nervous system and promoting overall well-being.
- Practical strategies such as deep breathing, sensory engagement, and self-touch can help calm the nervous system.
- Human connection and community play an essential role in healing and processing grief and loss.
- Acknowledging and allowing ourselves to feel discomfort and suffering is important for emotional well-being.
- Cultivating love, vulnerability, and compassion, even in challenging times, is an essential aspect of being human.
- Recognizing the physiological responses as normal and allowing ourselves to feel and process emotions is crucial for moving forward.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I think about this on multiple levels. I had a patient one time who had pretty severe, very severe ptsd, and she described this skin hunger because she so desperately wanted to feel connected and knew that that was also a source of incredible activation for her.“ by Christine Runyan
- “Between stimulus and response, there is a space, and in that space lies our power to choose, and in our choice lies our growth and our freedom.“ by Christine Runyan
- “So I guess what I would say is being curious if we can be curious just what's going on inside of our own bodies. The neurotransmitter of curiosity is dopamine. So if we can be curious, we can give ourselves a little hit of dopamine and then compassion. If I had to say, the one thing that probably supersedes all of those is compassion, including compassion for oneself.“ by Christine Runyan
Entities
Location
Person
Book
Product
Company
Organization
Episode Information
On Being with Krista Tippett
On Being Studios
5/30/24