Very interesting. Enjoyed the techniques for resetting the vagus nerve. If you are looking for stress management or anxiety relief this book would be helpful. A must read!

I found this book really confronting in the best possible way - that means it's working! Trust the process that Ferguson outlines (yes, this means NOT skipping ahead) and you'll find yourself in a mentally, phsyically and spiritually better space.

The Vagus Nerve Reset by Anna Ferguson is a decent intro to the vagus nerve. I didn’t find much new info, but there is value within. The practical information on how to apply a “reset” will surely be helpful to some. I found the presentation a bit robotic in its phrasing, yet recognize this may be a matter of personal preference. Overall, important and helpful material.

My thanks to NetGalley and Zeitgeist for allowing access to a digital ARC.

This book starts with a compelling experience on how the author discovered the connection to mind and body as a part of healing. The Vagus nerve is something I am hearing a lot about lately and there are many books and videos out about it. I think the key here is focusing on somatic healing (focus on the body) in addition to other cognitive healing methods (talk therapy, journaling, etc.) I think the combination can be powerful and have found moments like putting my legs up on the wall as a way to calm my nervous system (even when I can't always tell it needs to be calmed). The first half of the book is a review of the nervous system and then the latter part contains exercises and tips.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zeitgeist for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

I've recently discovered somatic healing and wanted to learn more about it. This book was very informative and easy to understand - it has given me a deeper insight into this practise and I now feel ready to put it into place in order to help heal my body.

The vagus nerve is key to many bodily functions, yet many people aren't familiar with it. The author does a wonderful job in explaining the link to digestion, heart rate, the stress response, etc. It's written in a way that non-medical professionals can understand it. There is a mention of the various health conditions linked to vagus nerve dysfunction, which includes dysautonomia, Long Covid, anxiety, depression, ME/CFS, among others. Ways to help calm the vagus nerve are included, such as deep breathing and mindfulness. It's amazing to see just how powerful and impact the vagus nerve has on our body/system. Practical solutions that are easy to do are included and will likely be helpful to the target audience. And I loved how the author encourages the reader to go at their own pace.

This book offers practical solutions for harnessing the power of the vagus nerve to reduce stress and overcome anxiety.

As someone who deals with misophonia and panic attacks, this book affirmed that I'm taking some of the right steps to effectively handle them.

Practical and easy solutions are offered to learn how to listen to your body and understand the mind/body/vagus nerve connection.

I've always wanted to know more about the vagus nerve therapy and the vagus nerve reset. It's a very interesting read, especiially for someone who hasn't previously studied this field. I'm trying to apply what I read and am really excited about beginning to see results!

My personal opinion is that some readers will benefit more from this book than others, depending on the wounds they are trying to heal. I struggle with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (C-PTSD), which originated in surviving a number of years of sadistic child sexual abuse (SCSA). I didn't find the suggestions in this book helpful. For one thing, there are some readers who will not benefit from being instructed to "list all their triggers" assumedly alone, without the support and guidance of a therapist. In years of intensive therapy, my trauma-informed therapist has never once asked me to list my triggers, and I was quite shaken by the idea of just sitting down by myself and literally going through those years, listing it all out... I don't know, I think it brings up a sense of shame, feeling out of control and overwhelmed, it brings up memories I simply don't have the capacity to deal with while also trying to cope with my daily tasks and responsibilities of normal life. Then there's figuring out your hierarchy of needs, which wasn't new to me, but did bring up some frustration. Whichever lowest level of the needs hierarchy you struggle with, I don't believe it's enough simply to say 'How will I fix this?' For some trauma survivors, that's just too much, too big a question, to address out of the blue. "I don't know, I guess I'll just go die real quick?" Again, it brings up a sense of inadequacy and shame. I suppose it probably depends what happened to you, and when, and what kind of support you had before the age of 7, and so on, but I can only speak for myself.

Please understand this is my personal response based on my own history of extreme trauma, and other readers may find something beneficial from reading this book. I was just disappointed because I'm trying to look out for books like this that may help me.

I received a copy of this book from Zeitgeist via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciated this book and how it walks you through the emotional/physical connection. The excersices were helpful and the practices seem easy enough. There was quite a bit of repetition and selling their program.

As a functional nutritionist, many clients come to me with digestive issues. What they don't realize beforehand is how important the nervous system is to proper digestion. In our stressed world, many are living in "flight or fight", causing a cascade of health issues.

"The Vagus Nerve Reset" is a wonderful book that guides the reader into what the vagus nerve is and its importance in our overall well-being.

I will definitely add this book to my list of recommendations to my clients as the techniques and exercises to reset and stimulate the vagus nerve will be advantageous to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. #TheVagusNerveReset #NetGalley

"The Vagus Nerve Reset" is a comprehensive guide that delves into the fascinating world of the vagus nerve and its impact on our overall well-being. Anna Ferguson's book provides a clear and accessible exploration of this crucial component of the autonomic nervous system.

The author begins by introducing readers to the concept of the vagus nerve, explaining its role in regulating various bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and stress response. The language is accessible to medical professionals and lay readers, making the book suitable for a broad audience.

One of the strengths of the book lies in its practical approach. Ferguson not only explains the science behind the vagus nerve but also offers a variety of techniques and exercises to reset and stimulate it. These exercises include breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, and lifestyle adjustments. Readers will appreciate the hands-on approach, as it empowers them to actively engage in improving their well-being.

The book also delves into the connection between the vagus nerve and various health conditions, ranging from anxiety and depression to digestive issues. [Author's Name] provides evidence-based insights, citing relevant studies and research to support the information presented. This adds credibility to the book's claims and enhances its value for readers seeking a deeper understanding of the topic.

While the content is informative and well-organized, some readers may find certain sections a bit dense, especially if they are new to the subject. However, the author makes an effort to break down complex concepts into digestible portions, making them more accessible for readers with varying levels of familiarity with neurobiology.

In conclusion, "The Vagus Nerve Reset" is a valuable resource for those interested in improving their overall health and well-being through understanding and optimizing the function of the vagus nerve. With a balance of science and practical advice, Ferguson creates a book that educates and empowers readers to take control of their autonomic nervous system for a healthier and more balanced life.

The Vagus Nerve Reset describes a three phase program to reset vagus nerve. I was very interested in Anna Ferguson's person story and would have like to hear how the phases of the program help her recovery. The program is structured, simple to follow and able to be performed at an individual pace. I think diagrams and pictures would have improved the format of the book. The author does a good job describing steps to work on somatic healing.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. in return for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

I majored in psychology in undergrad, and the first 30% of this book is a basic primer in understanding the nervous system. Most of this I remembered from Psych 101 classes or just living life (I'm in my late 30-s at the time of reading this). It was a good reminder but nothing new. Then the second half of the book is supposed to give you exercises or walkthroughs on "resetting" your vagus nervous system. However, if you have a mind-body connection or are in tune with your emotions, there is nothing new here.

The book is very repetitive, lots of "once you start doing these things you'll see a difference, but you can't rush, and we'll talk about that later." I think this is a tool many self help books use to hit a certain page number. I found it tedious and off-putting. I think the majority of this book could have been better served by a series of YouTube videos on connecting to your body, or guided breath work exercises. I also acknowledge I was aware of the Vagus nerve before reading this, so there wasn't much novel information for me. I give it two stars because I think if a reader wasn't familiar with the subject matter, this could be an accessible way to learn more about it.

“In order to truly process the ills that arise when we are stuck in our heads, we need to turn inwards and listen to our bodies”

4.5 ⭐️

Working as a mental health professional, I am no stranger to the field of trauma. I have also read many books about the subject, however I really connected with this book. Anna has created a resource that is engaging and insightful, evidence based and highlights the strengths and importance of holistic psychology approaches.

The program is based on neuroscience and Anna does well to explain the mechanisms in simple language that makes this content accessible to most people. One of my qualms with most self-help books is the beginning drag of hyping up the content of the book. Anna balanced this well through personal anecdote, she leaves the reader motivated to learn more and hopeful, without wasting too much time trying to sell the program. The program is structured, easy to follow and at your own pace. The exercises are more detailed than I have seen in other resources, but may be better supported with visual cues and demonstrations. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to start their journey learning about somatic and holistic healing methods of trauma, however it may not be new content for those who are already familiar with this topic.

Thank you NetGalley and Zeitgeist for this eARC.

"The Vagus Nerve Reset" is a great handbook for anyone interested in learning more about health and resiliency. It was my introduction to the subject and I'll admit I am intrigued and eager to try the suggested strategies and ideas for implementation. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A great introductory resource to mind body syndrome through the lens of the vagus nerve. Great, immediate daily practices to put into practice to bring down stress, anxiety, depression and possibly pain.

I am presently working on learning more about the vagus nerve. The nervous system controls so much of what goes on in our body. I was really pleased with the way this book presented the facts about the vagus nerve, and went on to present help for resetting it.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Quite an interesting book . I read through quickly and will go back to do the exercises to see if I see any affect .

"The Vagus Nerve Reset" is a program designed to help with nervous system dysregulation. It's for someone who has experienced some trauma that left their nervous system stuck in flight/flight or in freeze. This leads to being physically out of whack and feeling overwhelmed when even little things go wrong.

I was interested in the science and was disappointed that the author only described the nervous system and Polyvagal Theory in very simple, general terms. Back when my body was really out of whack, I learned about the vagus nerve and ways to help positively stimulate the vagus by watching and reading free information online. I didn't learn much new from this book.

The first third of the book was about the nervous system, the last third was glossary, index, and recommended resources, and the rest was her program. She recommends being aware of your body and moving it as a way to get well. The first step was to help you become more aware of your body, then she described some simple exercises and stretches to help reset the nervous system. Much of this section was encouraging the reader to really do each step and not get impatient with the process. There were no illustrations or diagrams, but most of the suggested activities sound simple enough to do just from written descriptions. Since my body got fired up (so I felt every little thing) rather than numbed sensation, which was her problem, I'm not really sure her journaling step would have even helped me. Her program may be helpful for some, though.