Healing with Safe Touch: Understanding the Parasympathetic Nervous Systems

Dream Weaver
Jul 5
3 min read

Updated: Sep 18

Hands clasped together in a cozy white sweater on a lap with a sheer polka-dot skirt. Wooden bench and blurred trees in the background.

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

Our bodies have an autonomic nervous system controlling unconscious processing. These are the functions that happen without thinking about it, such as the heartbeat, digestion, and breathing. This system is crucial to survival and is always active, even while sleeping. There are two main parts, the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system activates the fight-flight-freeze-fawn responses that kick in during danger, stress, or anxiety. It's designed to support short-term and acute needs and survival. The parasympathetic nervous system activates the "rest and digest" mode that balances the more active acute survival mode of the sympathetic nervous system. This system slows the heart rate, deepens breathing, and brings the body into balance to support ongoing survival and wellbeing. This hormone provides more than emotional and social support. It can also protect us against common virus, especially during periods of high stress, and even block pain signals. Physical touch is an important part of holistically caring for ourselves and each other. Cuddle and Rope Therapy can support this need for ourselves and develop our capacity to show up for our loved ones from a place of trust and connection.

How Cuddle and Rope Therapy Activate the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Cuddle and Rope therapy activate the parasympathetic nervous system in several ways. Safe physical touch engages the parasympathetic nervous system in several ways. The client-led, trauma-informed approach places your needs, goals, and well-being at the center of the service. This focus promotes a sense of being cared for, listened to, and valued. In addition to the sense of care at the center of the service, practices such deep breathing, relaxation techniques, and mindfulness creates a sense of safety within yourself. The slowed heart rate, deep and steady breathing, tension release, and sense of quiet send signals to the brain affirming the sense of safety, allowing you to further soften into the rest your body is offering.

Regularly activating the parasympathetic nervous system provides the body with ongoing opportunities for "rest and digest." Where the 4F's (Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn) support immediate survival threats, the "rest and digest" response supports our long-term wellbeing. It releases hormones such as oxytocin, commonly referred to as the "bonding" or "feel good" hormone. Oxytocin lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases feelings of trust and connection, both of which are needed for long-term relationships.

Promoting Physical and Emotional Wellbeing

Reduces pain and inflammation and supports a sense of physical well-being.

Trauma, physical touch, and the parasympathetic nervous system

For many trauma survivors, the body can stay stuck in a state of fight-flight-freeze long after the danger has passed. This results in the nervous system operating in a state of hypervigilance and chronic stress and creates ongoing wear-and-tear on the emotional and physical wellbeing of the person.

This is where intentional, therapeutic touch becomes powerful. Cuddle therapy and rope therapy are designed to support nervous system regulation in a safe, consensual, and trauma-informed way. The repeated exposure to safe touch retrains the body to recognize safety again.

Healing doesn't happen in just the mind- it also happens in the nervous system and touch can be a bridge between the two.

Cuddle and rope therapy as a parasympathetic practice

As a somatic-based worker, cuddle and rope therapy is about more than comfort- it's about nervous system restoration and deep, energetic healing. These sessions allow the body to finally exhale- releasing tension, stress, and deeply stored trauma. Cuddle and rope therapy offer unique and varied ways to create space for your parasympathetic nervous system to come online, promoting deep rest and recovery.

Rest does not have to be earned and we don't have to wait for crisis to seek the comfort, care, and connection we all deserve. Your body and mind not only deserve rest, care, and connection- they need them for you to connect with the wholeness of yourself.

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