#324: How to Somatically Rewire Your Past to Create Secure Attachment with Sarah Baldwin

Nervous System

Sarah Baldwin explains that our nervous system is the lens through which we experience the world, affecting our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. She describes how our nervous system can operate on autopilot, leading to avoidant behaviors that are often misunderstood as narcissism 1. Baldwin emphasizes the importance of understanding autonomic tones, which are the sensations and feelings that shape our nervous system's responses 2. She highlights the role of the threat detector, a system that constantly assesses our environment for safety, influencing our ability to experience peace and connection 3.

It's responsible for our thoughts, our feelings, our behaviors, our sensations, our perception of ourselves, others, and the world around us.

--- Sarah Baldwin

Recognizing these autonomic tones can help us manage our responses and foster healthier relationships.

   

Co-regulation

Baldwin introduces the concept of internal co-regulation as a method for self-healing by aligning different parts of our nervous system. She explains that by understanding the difference between our adult self and younger parts, we can regulate our emotional responses more effectively 4. Attunement, she notes, is crucial in this process, as it involves creating space for emotions rather than trying to suppress them 5.

Co-regulation is the experience of two nervous systems can actually help each other regulate or dysregulate via something called mirror neurons.

--- Sarah Baldwin

This approach allows us to comfort and attune to our younger selves, fostering a sense of safety and regulation.

   

Rewiring

Baldwin discusses techniques for rewiring past experiences to create secure attachments and positive emotional states. She explains that disconfirming experiences can change our internal database, allowing us to imprint new, positive childhood experiences 6. By repeatedly bringing positive past experiences to life, we can create a secure internal attachment and meet our own needs 7. Baldwin highlights the profound impact of healing and regulating our nervous systems, noting that a regulated system can positively influence others, especially within family dynamics 8.

The best thing that we can do for the entire world is to heal and regulate our own nervous system.

--- Sarah Baldwin

This process not only transforms personal relationships but also has the potential to create healthier societal systems.