by Nila Pazhayam
Do you often find yourself listening to the same song over and over again, doodling while on the phone, or fidgeting with random objects as you’re reading or working? These are common examples of various behaviors humans exhibit to help regulate our nervous system. I have a set of magnets at my desk, for instance, that I play with constantly while thinking or reading.
What is nervous system regulation and why do we engage in these behaviors? Our nervous system controls our stress levels by balancing many different bodily functions such as temperature, heart rate, blood sugar levels, blood pressure levels, hormone levels, water levels, inflammation, sleep, etc. When we are stressed, many of these bodily processes go out of balance, and without this type of regulation, learning, memory, and other cognitive functions that are essential to survive (and thrive) can be severely compromised. Repetitive behaviors such as fidgeting or pulling at our hair and skin, excessive (or inadequate) levels of ordinary behaviors such as sleeping or eating, and harmful behaviors such as binge drinking, smoking, or drug abuse, are all ultimately attempts by our bodies to self-regulate our nervous system when the usual mechanisms fail or are insufficient.
Fidgeting has been reported to reduce stress, although it is still unclear exactly how this works. It’s been suggested that when stress hormone levels in our bodies are high, such as during threat exposure, energy that would otherwise have gone into fighting or fleeing can be channeled into repetitive movements. It has also been suggested that repetitive movements improve blood flow, which in turn reduces heart rate and blood pressure levels. Other outcomes of fidgeting that have been proposed are regulation of weight and attention span, although it is unclear whether these are simply secondary consequences of the stress relief caused by fidgeting.
What are some ways to fidget that help regulate our nervous system and are also more productive than just tapping a pen or bouncing your leg? Activities such as crafting, knitting, crocheting, gardening, and cooking have all shown to be effective stress regulators, not only because they involve repetitive movements, but also because a tangible product is created at the end. Furthermore, such activities have shown to be helpful for mental health disorders – such as anxiety – that can stem from dysregulated nervous systems. Other examples of skills involving repetitive movements are coin walking, pen spinning, and learning the morse code. I have attempted to teach myself all three with varying degrees of success and can attest to the fact that they are not only calming activities but also – on occasion – cool party tricks!
On a more serious note, you may notice that some self-regulating behaviors are considered less morally neutral than others – individuals struggling with substance abuse, for instance, are likely to be judged more severely for the way they self-regulate than those who play with a fidget spinner every now and then. While this is often a result of how harmful a certain behavior is to our bodies and society as a whole, it is important to remember that “social cost” – the social consequence of a self-regulating behavior – is influenced by various factors, many of which are a result of unfair social standards, unequal economic and political privileges, and conditioned biases.
Have you caught yourself doing any such self-regulating behaviors? If so, have you noticed an increase in these habits since the coronavirus pandemic began?
