October 24, 2024

#180 Ultimate 60-Second Strategy to Cut Stress, Anxiety, Enhance Recovery & Improve Performance (Vagus Nerve Electric Stimulation) | Nick Hool @ Hoolest

1 hour 6 minutes

Are you a stress dominant individual looking for a quick way to reduce anxiety & nerves right before your big game, board meeting or a high stake activity? Then vagus nerve stimulation may be the answer.

In today’s episode, Nick Hool, founder and innovator of Hoolest, unfolds the truth about the vagus nerve stimulation & just how crucial your vagal nerve tone & condition is when it comes to your reactions to stress. Discover how he developed a device targeting the vagus nerve that promotes relaxation & reduces stress in under 60 seconds. You’ll learn all that & more in this episode on “Innovating Vagus Nerve Stimulation”

Meet our guest

Nick, a former competitive golfer, shifted his focus to studying stress responses in high-performance individuals after developing debilitating performance anxiety. He earned a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering at ASU, where he explored neuromodulation technologies and discovered the benefits of vagus nerve stimulation for calming the nervous system.

To improve user experience, he developed VeRelief, a portable, high-strength vagus nerve stimulation tool designed for busy professionals seeking effective stress relief. VeRelief is now used by first responders, executives, athletes, doctors, and other high-stress professionals nationwide.

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Key takeaways

There are many ways to stimulate the vagus nerve, each with slightly different effects

The vagus nerve connects the brain to the body and helps calm the nervous system during fight-or-flight states

Electrical stimulation is faster and more effective for vagus nerve activation

Stimulating the trigeminal nerve can reduce headache pain and prevent future migraines

Auricular nerve stimulators can be used for 10–20 minutes; simply adjust them until you hit the right spot for effectiveness

Vagus nerve stimulation can reduce stress and anxiety

Vagus nerve stimulation can distract your mind from stress by focusing your attention on the sensation

Sleep issues often have a stress component, such as overthinking, mental chatter, or negative thoughts

Auriculovagus nerve stimulation increases neuroplasticity, enhancing the brain’s ability to learn and retain new information

Using vagus nerve stimulation before practicing a skill improves memory retention and performance

If you have low vagal tone, start gently with electrical stimulation, as it can be overwhelming at first

Visualization can help reduce stress by mentally rehearsing scenarios, making the brain feel like it’s already experienced them

Effective visualization requires time and focus—an hour a day of undistracted practice is necessary to see real benefits

Daily vagus nerve stimulation strengthens emotional regulation, reducing negative responses to future bad memories

Episode Highlights

03:06 Everything You Need to Know About The Vagus Nerve

07:01 Benefits & Risks of Vagus Nerve Stimulation

09:04 Vagus Nerve & Stress Relief Stimulation Modalities

18:49 Effects of VNS on Chronic Illness, Cognitive, & Performance Enhancement

47:41 Vagus Nerve Stimulation Studies

Links

Watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/kw1vqd_ABC4

Full episode show notes: mindbodypeak.com/180

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Nick

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