203 - Carissa Conrad - Your New Best Friend: The Vagus Nerve

We explore how the vagus nerve shapes recovery from Long Covid and chronic fatigue, and why building parasympathetic tone changes sleep, digestion, pain, and mood. Carissa Conrad shares clear guidance on non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation, safe pacing, and common mistakes to avoid.• what the vagus nerve does across heart, gut, immune and inflammation• why sympathetic overdrive feels normal and how to spot it• paced breathing, humming and gentle tools to build vagal tone• what vagus nerve stimulation means and how it works• TENS versus ultrasound, ear and neck targets, parameter basics• passive stimulation to support busy days and low energy• go slow: dosage, safety, and early warning signs• using polyvagal maps to time stimulation and pacing• avoiding boom‑and‑bust while expanding activity• cost‑effective access, kits, and practical set‑up• the mindset shift: nervous system literacy for lifeLinks:Carissa's website: carissaconraddpt.com YouTube: @theVagusnervePTMessage me! (I can't reply to these messages) For more information about Long Covid Breathing courses & workshops, please check out LongCovidBreathing.com (music credit - Brock Hewitt, Rule of Life) Support the show~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thankyou for joining me in The Recovery Room. If you found this episode useful & are able to, you can support the show by buying me a coffee or checking out the merchVisit The Recovery Room website: www.JackiesRecoveryRoom.com Follow me on social media channels: @JackiesRecoveryRoom **Disclaimer - you should not rely on any medical information contained in this Podcast and related materials in making medical, health-related or other decisions. Please consult a doctor or other health professional**