Resting Heart Rate, PTSD & Cardiovascular Disease

As an indicator of capillary flow to enhance autonomic regulation--a cheap and easy but highly effective form of biofeedback. Years ago we thought that many of these processes were out of our control but now we know otherwise.

Unfortunately, many of us have become habituated to high levels of stress hormones, particularly those of us with childhoods that required a great deal of vigilance (high ACES) and may not even realize we are, in effect, stewing in our own juices. Physiological indicators of arousal (biofeedback) can provide a powerful point of intervention because we are down regulating the autonomic nervous system.

It can also be a pivotal point of power for patients; imagine after a life-challenging diagnosis being able to raise your hand temperature from 70 to 95 degrees in a matter of moments! Once we return the body to homeostasis everything gets easier.

In my programs at the medical centers (and in the book) we begin by getting "your biology on your side," and once that happens we can begin to work on the beliefs behind maladaptive behavior. There are a few articles here that relate to the process: http://www.brendastockdale.com/the-blog/

Interesting, Brenda. Can you provide more info about why it's useful to learn to regulate hand temperature?