I was quite interested by the title of this book, due to personal health issues. I have vagal-stimulated atrial fibrillation, so I knew what the vagal nerve was, but that there was a theory about a nerve reset was news to me.

Unfortunately, the information in this book is considered a pseudoscience, as I have now come to understand. It sort of gives the impression that it is a medical truth, but it's just a trendy theory.

I found the author's story quite compelling, and her enthusiasm is contagious, but since the underlying theory is not scientifically proven, I can't really recommend this book in the way it's presented. The daily practices seem to be quite positive and I'm sure could help many people, however.

A wonderful book about the vagus nerve. I learned about this nerve when I was recovering from an injury last year. Who would've thought that this nerve does so many things. I liked the ease of the understanding of this book; an easy to read. One thing missing was more photos/illustrations. But all in all a wonderful informative book - a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

"The Vagus Nerve Reset" by Anna Ferguson provides immediate and practical methods to forge a mindful connection with our bodies, unveiling the transformative potential of our innate capacity to process and return to a state of safety. Addressing signs of anxiety and disconnection as indicators of a misaligned nervous system, Ferguson offers accessible tools grounded in the science of Polyvagal Theory. By understanding the power of somatic therapy, readers can reshape their responses to stressors, fostering resilience, improved sleep, digestion, and relief from anxiety. The book introduces a comprehensive program that assesses and positively changes mood and behavior through practices such as breath, touch, movement, and intention, facilitating a profound connection to the body. Through an easy-to-grasp exploration of Polyvagal Theory, readers gain insights into how the nervous system regulates feelings of safety and responses to life experiences. "The Vagus Nerve Reset" is an essential read, empowering individuals to navigate day-to-day challenges with calm and resilience.

Thank you NetGalley and Zeitgeist for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have dysautonomia as well as complex PTSD, so I guess you can tell just how screwed up my autonomic nervous system is.

Part one went over some basics about the ANS (none of this was new to me) with some pseudo-science sprinkled in between.

The second part is the author's actual "vagus nerve reset" program. Let me say, the length of this book could have been slashed in half if the author didn't spend just as much time trying to sell you the program as they did actually fleshing out the program. But, I digress.

The exercises were all quite basic and some, I would go as far as to say, were vague. Needless to say, neither the journaling nor practical/physical exercises did much of anything for me. That being said, images would have been helpful for the many physical exercises suggested in the book.

There are much better books on the nervous system and on trauma to read that would be much more helpful if you are looking for dysautonomia management or information on healing trauma. This just wasn't it.

This is a must-have resource to help one improve health, resiliency, and live a more full and happy life. It is full of great strategies, advice, and easy to implement ideas. This is one I'll return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This book is part informational, part workbook. The goal is to teach us about our nervous system and why/how some of us get stuck in an overactive state that leaves us in a bad place mentally and unable to regulate our emotions. This book was super informative and though I have discussed a lot of these things with my therapist, I also learned a lot. I found the concept of the reset program being in steps very interesting and it makes a lot of sense to me to start small and perfect the basics before moving up the “pyramid”. I appreciated the amount of prompts there were, making this book way more interactive than I initially thought it would be. I think this book would be incredibly helpful to anyone who has experienced trauma in their life and has found the impact of that trauma is making things hard for them in their day to day life. I will definitely continue to reference this book as needed to remind myself how I can reset when I am feeling over activated.

Highly recommended: A step-by-step guide to work with your body to regulate your nervous system
This book was a wonderful revelation for me. And I recommend it for everyone struggling e.g. with anxiety, PTSD, depression or Longcovid / PEM, ME/CFS.
When I got the ARC I was already working with my body for some weeks to regulate my longcovid symptoms, esp. the crash/fatigue-pattern (PEM). I can wholeheartedly endorse the step-by-step approach Ferguson describes in The Vagus Nerv Reset to come into touch with your body and regulate your nervous system. She really nails it.
Her book was a great validation for what I cooked up for myself (mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, Qui Gong among others). And she is right that phase 1 (the foundation) takes time - usually weeks. I got more pointers for my next steps from her book (I am currently at phase 3). BTW: If you start phase 3 download the free app Visible Covid on your mobile phone - do the morning check-in as described and you get a reliable HRV and HR - no need to take your pulse and it tracks your improvements (the evening check-in is for Longcovid symptoms/pacing).
The book is written in an engaging style. It starts with some sciencey stuff which this laid-back Australian author describes so easily with many practical, daily life references that I felt right at home. I loved that she sprinkled into the story her personal experience with trauma - it made everything very relatable and I felt encouraged to try her suggestions out. I got the feeling that she has been in my shoes. The practical part is down to earth with easy to do suggestions. I especially liked that Ferguson encourages the reader to take it slow, build a good foundation and find their own pace.
There is one thing I missed: some pictures e.g. of the vagus nerv or sketches of some of the exercises.
To sum it up: Kudos to the author for an important book for all of us who want a reliable, easy guide to help us connect with the body and regulate its amazing nervous system.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.