Psychedelics and The Wisdom of Your Nervous System
Understanding how to work with triggers and regulate our nervous system is foundational for healing and personal growth. Psychedelics, when used thoughtfully, can aid in this process by helping individuals access and re-pattern deep-seated stress responses in the body. With insights from polyvagal theory, somatic psychology, and psychedelic science, we’ll dive into how nervous system regulation techniques can support healing and transformation, especially when integrated with the insights and experiences psychedelics bring.
What Are Triggers and Why Do They Matter?
A “trigger” is a reminder of past trauma or distress, often evoking emotions or reactions that feel out of proportion to the present situation. When triggered, we can experience physical symptoms like racing heartbeats, shortness of breath, or tightness in the body as the nervous system enters “fight, flight, or freeze” mode. For many, understanding and managing triggers is essential in moving from a survival-based reaction to a more grounded, resilient response.
Dr. Stephen Porges, a leading researcher in neuroscience and trauma, developed polyvagal theory to help explain the complexities of the nervous system’s response to stress. According to Porges, the autonomic nervous system (ANS) includes the ventral vagal (social engagement) system, which allows us to feel safe and connected, and the sympathetic (fight or flight) and dorsal vagal (freeze or shutdown) systems, which are activated when we perceive danger. In polyvagal theory, understanding and cultivating “safety” in our body is essential for moving out of reactive states and into resilience.
How Psychedelics Interact with the Nervous System
Research has shown that psychedelics, particularly compounds like psilocybin, MDMA, and ketamine, can create a sense of openness and ease that makes the nervous system more receptive to change. Dr. Gabor Maté, a prominent expert on trauma and addiction, highlights that psychedelics can open a window to reframe and process past traumas while feeling safe in the present. Psychedelics appear to disrupt the habitual responses of the nervous system, creating opportunities for “resetting” neural pathways and fostering a sense of calm, safety, and connection.
Additionally, psychedelics can lead to transient states of heightened awareness where individuals might experience past traumatic events from a new perspective, often accompanied by feelings of self-compassion. In such states, those who experience severe or chronic triggers may finally feel a “pause” between stimulus and response, giving space for a new, gentler reaction. It’s in these moments that psychedelics become tools, not only for insight but also for deeply somatic and psychological healing.
Nervous System Regulation Techniques for Psychedelic Integration
For those working with psychedelics in their healing journey, integrating techniques from somatic psychology and nervous system regulation can be invaluable in helping these insights take root. Key approaches include:
1. Somatic Tracking and Awareness
Somatic tracking involves observing sensations in the body without judgment, staying present with emotions and physical reactions as they arise. Dr. Peter Levine, founder of Somatic Experiencing, emphasizes that trauma lives in the body and that healing begins by “listening” to the body’s signals and allowing them to shift. After a psychedelic experience, gentle somatic tracking can help individuals recognize and release patterns of tension or dissociation associated with old traumas.
2. Breathwork for Calming the Nervous System
Simple breathwork exercises like diaphragmatic breathing or box breathing (inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and hold again) can help shift the body from a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) to a parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) state. Practicing these methods before or after a psychedelic experience can enhance feelings of safety and promote relaxation, supporting long-term integration.
3. Mindful Movement and Grounding Techniques
Physical movement, especially exercises that involve grounding (like walking barefoot on grass) or stretching, helps the body process stored tension and can bring individuals back into the present. Grounding exercises can be particularly effective for those who feel unbalanced or emotionally unsteady after a psychedelic journey.
Polyvagal Theory and Psychedelics: Restoring Safety in the Body
Polyvagal theory provides a roadmap for understanding how psychedelics can help us access parts of ourselves that were previously guarded or frozen. Dr. Porges’ work underscores that when we experience a safe social connection, our body automatically feels calmer and more regulated. This is why community support and connection play such an important role in the psychedelic journey—feeling safe within a community can help calm the nervous system, making it easier to process insights and heal.
A regulated nervous system enables individuals to move toward embodied resilience, where they can shift between states of alertness, rest, and social engagement without getting “stuck” in fight, flight, or freeze. Psychedelic journeys, when taken within a supportive environment, can help individuals restore a sense of agency and safety by making it easier to engage with and process triggers without feeling overwhelmed.
How Ceremonia Supports Healing through Somatic Integration
At Ceremonia, we acknowledge that psychedelics are powerful tools that engage both body and mind, and we emphasize integration practices that support nervous system regulation. Our approach combines communal support with guidance on incorporating body-based practices to help maintain a grounded state. Participants are encouraged to tune into their bodies and practice grounding techniques to help cement the shifts experienced during their journeys.
Through group integration circles and nature walks, Ceremonia’s retreat experience is designed to help individuals feel connected to themselves and their surroundings. These practices, inspired by somatic psychology and polyvagal theory, help participants carry the safety and insight from their journey into everyday life. While we provide peer support and tools to aid in trauma processing, we always recommend that individuals dealing with significant trauma consult a qualified therapist, as psychedelic integration works best in conjunction with professional therapeutic support.
Conclusion
Psychedelics have the potential to reveal parts of ourselves we’ve long buried or ignored, but this journey of rediscovery can be daunting without proper tools. Understanding and working with our nervous system allows us to use insights from psychedelic experiences as stepping stones toward long-lasting resilience and calm. With a focus on safety, nervous system regulation, and the support of somatic practices, we can begin to reshape our responses to triggers and create new pathways for healing and self-understanding. Psychedelics, when combined with mindful integration, have the power to bring us back to a state of inner balance, helping us embrace life with greater compassion and calm.
