The Second Brain & The Gut Feeling

The Second Brain &The Gut FeelingLeslie Goertzen, LSCSW, LMAC

Objectives

Learn how the brain and digestive system impacts one another and what this does to our everyday lives.

1Learn how the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems play a role in this.

2Be able to identify possible diagnoses when the “second brain” is activated.

3Learn therapy skills that can be utilized to regulate ourselves.

4

Brain and Digestive System Link

https://youtu.be/VzPD009qTN4

Norepinephrine• Found mainly in adrenal glands• Increased blood sugar levels• Increased heart rate• Blood vessels become narrower• Increase blood pressure

Epinephrine• Increased blood sugar levels• Increased heart rate• Relaxation of lung muscles improving breathing• “Adrenaline rush”

Dopamine• “feel good”• Helps digestion• Heart and kidney function• Regulates moods and emotions• Reward seeking behavior• Assists with sleep

Serotonin• The “mood stabilizer” of the body• Reduces depression• Assists with relaxation• Helps to heal wounds• Causes the feeling of nausea• Mainly found in GI tract

Neurotransmitters

The Grumpy Gut

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/table/T1/?report=objectonly

The Gut Feeling• What does it feel like?• What emotions?• Intuition??• Inner voice• Sixth sense• More than likely, it’s good to listen

You didn’t know you were back in school!!

https://youtu.be/71pCilo8k4M

Autonomic Nervous System

Cortisol

https://askthescientists.com/cortisol/

Autonomic Nervous System

The Polyvagal TheoryDr. Stephen Porges

https://youtu.be/z41x1BaXMdE

What is trauma??? Oxford Dictionary

https://www.google.com/search?q=trauma&hl=en&sxsrf=ALeKk00Di3ZDHIU9gLBlUftfBnfP7eaQkg%3A1617722189425&ei=TXtsYICzGZqxtQb9rIj4Aw&oq=trauma&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBwgAELEDEEMyBwgAELEDEEMyBwgAELEDEEMyCggAEIcCELEDEBQyBwgAELEDEEMyBAgAEEMyBQgAELEDMgUIABCxAzIECAAQQzIHCC4QsQMQQ1CvElivEmCkFGgAcAJ4AIABngKIAesCkgEFMS4wLjGYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6wAEB&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjAjcjj9OnvAhWaWM0KHX0WAj8Q4dUDCA0&uact=5

Factors contributing to intensity of trauma.

Person A• Previously

diagnosed with MDD

• Some financial stress

• Family history of depression and

anxiety.• Little to no

support.• Been told they are

a “worry-wort”• Previously in car

wreck 2 yrs ago

Person B• Previously

diagnosed with MDD

• Some financial stress

• Family history of depression and

anxiety• Has good, healthy

supports• More relaxed

• Never been in a car wreck

• What would it look like 1 week later?

• 1 month later?

• 6 months later?

• What would it look like 1 year later?

• 5 years??• 10 years???

Continued activation of stress/fear response…

On-going gut problems can lead to… Can’t trust the gut

Question *almost* everything-including self

Difficulty with trusting others

Impending doom frequently

GI issues: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, IBS, etc.

Difficulty concentrating

Startled easily

Diagnoses:• PTSD

• Acute Stress Disorder• Major Depression Disorder• Anxiety: Panic Disorder, GAD, etc.

• Eating Disorders• Personality Disorders• Somatic Disorders

• Dissociative Disorders

Somatic & Dissociative Disorders

https://step2.medbullets.com/psychiatry/120644/somatic-symptom-and-related-disorders

Let’s recap, so far…

Stress=trauma

Brain can interpret daily stress as life threatening

This causes continued fight/flight or freeze responses

Which could cause continued GI problems and other issues

• I’m kidding…don’t do this, please.

SKILLS!!!

Stress

Prevention

Self-Care

Mindfulness

Cognitive Skills

Intervention

Movement/Bo

dy

Breath Work

Prevention = Self-Care

https://wordart.com/create

1. What you do.2. What you NEED to do.

Mindfulness

Mindful Practice:• Mindfulness Skills

• What and How Skills• Meditation

• Guided breathing, imagery, Open mind and Focused Mind

• Contemplative Prayer• Mindful Movement

• Yoga, tai chi, horseback riding, walking, dancing, etc.

https://youtu.be/aNCB1MZDgQA

Cognitive SkillsRestructuring Reframing

InterventioNMovement / Body• Stretching/Yoga—especially

sides• Running, jumping jacks, etc.• Cold Water• Progressive Muscle Relaxation• Grounding: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; bare

feet on the floor/ground• Rocking

Breath Work• 4-7-8 breathing• Box Breathing/4 square method• Belly breathing/blowing balloon• Humming-activates vagus nerve

victory breath https://youtu.be/6sEittuZ3GA

• Alternate Nostril Breathing• Breath of Fire/Wim Hof method

Skills Breakdown

Point

TIPP• Temperature

• Mammalian dive reflex: https://youtu.be/00RKh6NRMqc

• Intense Exercise• Min. 20 minutes• https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-

living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates• Paced Breathing

• 4 seconds in• Hold 2 seconds• 6 seconds out• Hold 2 seconds

• Paired Muscle Relaxation• Similar to muscle relaxation• Add breathing and saying “relax” while

releasing muscle groups

Objectives

Learn how the brain and digestive system impacts one another and what this does to our everyday lives.

Learn how the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems play a role in this.

Be able to identify possible diagnoses when the “second brain” is activated.

Learn therapy skills that can be utilized to regulate ourselves.

Questions, comments…Leslie A. Goertzen, LSCSW, LMACCompass Behavioral Health, Dodge [email protected]

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Modulators Regulating Gut-Brain Axis. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/table/T1/?report=objectonly

• Posted by Sana I. Powell, M. (2020, April 24). Cognitive Reframing: Quarantine. Retrieved from https://curlytherapist.com/2020/04/24/cognitive-reframing-quarantine/

• Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://step2.medbullets.com/psychiatry/120644/somatic-symptom-and-related-disordersWhat Is the 'Spectrum of Dissociation'? (2021, April 06). Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://themighty.com/2021/01/spectrum-of-dissociation-daydreaming-disorders/

• Why do I procrastinate to the deadline and play, how can I prevent it? (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2021, from https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20160422-how-to-overcome-procrastination/