The Second Brain &
The Gut Feeling
Leslie Goertzen, LSCSW, LMAC
Objectives
1 2 3 4
Learn how the brain Learn how the Be able to identify Learn therapy skills
and digestive system parasympathetic and possible diagnoses that can be utilized to
impacts one another sympathetic nervous when the “second regulate ourselves.
and what this does to systems play a role in brain” is activated.
our everyday lives. this.
Brain and Digestive System
Link
https://youtu.be/VzPD009qTN4
Norepinephrine Epinephrine
• Found mainly in adrenal glands • Increased blood sugar levels
• Increased blood sugar levels • Increased heart rate
• Increased heart rate • Relaxation of lung muscles improving breathing
• Blood vessels become narrower • “Adrenaline rush”
• Increase blood pressure
Neurotransmitters
Dopamine Serotonin
• “feel good” • The “mood stabilizer” of the body
• Helps digestion • Reduces depression
• Heart and kidney function • Assists with relaxation
• Regulates moods and emotions • Helps to heal wounds
• Reward seeking behavior • Causes the feeling of nausea
• Assists with sleep • Mainly found in GI tract
The Grumpy Gut
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/table/T1/?report=objectonly
The Gut
Feeling
•
•
What does it feel like?
What emotions?
• Intuition??
• Inner voice
• Sixth sense
• More than likely, it’s good to listen
You didn’t
know you were
back in
school!!
https://youtu.be/71pCilo8k4M
Autonomic
Nervous System
Cortisol
https://askthescientists.com/cortisol/
Autonomic
Nervous System
The
Polyvagal
Theory
Dr. Stephen Porges
https://youtu.be/z41x1BaXMdE
What is
trauma???
Oxford
Dictionary
https://www.google.com/search?q=trauma&hl=en&sxsrf=ALeKk00Di3ZDHIU9gLBlUftfBnfP7eaQkg%3A161
7722189425&ei=TXtsYICzGZqxtQb9rIj4Aw&oq=trauma&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBwgAELEDEEMyBwgA
ELEDEEMyBwgAELEDEEMyCggAEIcCELEDEBQyBwgAELEDEEMyBAgAEEMyBQgAELEDMgUIABCxAzIECAAQQ
zIHCC4QsQMQQ1CvElivEmCkFGgAcAJ4AIABngKIAesCkgEFMS4wLjGYAQCgAQGqAQdnd3Mtd2l6wAEB&scli
ent=gws-wiz&ved=0ahUKEwjAjcjj9OnvAhWaWM0KHX0WAj8Q4dUDCA0&uact=5
Factors
contributing
to intensity
of trauma.
Person A Person B
• Previously • Previously
diagnosed with diagnosed with
MDD MDD
• Some financial • Some financial
stress stress
• Family history of • Family history of
depression and depression and
anxiety.
anxiety
• Little to no
support. • Has good, healthy
supports
• Been told they are
a “worry-wort” • More relaxed
• Previously in car • Never been in a
wreck 2 yrs ago car wreck
• What would it look like 1 week • What would it look like 1 year
later?
later?
• 1 month later? • 5 years??
• 6 months later? • 10 years???
Continued activation
of stress/fear
response…
On-going gut
problems can
Can’t trust the gut
lead to…
Diagnoses: Question *almost* everything-including self
• PTSD
Difficulty with trusting others
• Acute Stress Disorder
• Major Depression Disorder Impending doom frequently
• Anxiety: Panic Disorder, GAD, etc.
GI issues: nausea, diarrhea, constipation, IBS, etc.
• Eating Disorders
• Personality Disorders Difficulty concentrating
• Somatic Disorders
Startled easily
• Dissociative Disorders
Somatic &
Dissociative
Disorders
https://step2.medbullets.com/psychiatry/120644/somatic-symptom-and-related-disorders
Let’s recap, so far…
Stress=trauma
Brain can interpret daily stress
as life threatening
This causes continued
fight/flight or freeze responses
Which could cause continued
GI problems and other issues
SKILLS!!!
• I’m kidding…don’t do this, please.
Stre
ss
Preven Interven
tion tion
Self- Movem
ent/Bo
Care dy
Mindful Breath
ness Work
Cognitiv
e Skills
Prevention = Self-Care
https://wordart.com/create
1. What you do.
2. What you NEED to do.
https://youtu.be/aNCB1MZDgQA
Mindful Practice:
• Mindfulness Skills
• What and How Skills
• Meditation
• Guided breathing, imagery, Open mind and
Focused Mind
• Contemplative Prayer
• Mindful Movement
• Yoga, tai chi, horseback riding, walking,
dancing, etc.
Mindfulness
Cognitive Skills
Restructuring Reframing
InterventioN
Movement / Body Breath Work
• Stretching/Yoga—especially • 4-7-8 breathing
sides • Box Breathing/4 square method
• Running, jumping jacks, etc. • Belly breathing/blowing balloon
• Cold Water • Humming-activates vagus nerve
• Progressive Muscle Relaxation victory breath
• Grounding: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1; bare https://youtu.be/6sEittuZ3GA
feet on the floor/ground • Alternate Nostril Breathing
• Rocking • Breath of Fire/Wim Hof method
TIPP
• Temperature
• Mammalian dive reflex:
https://youtu.be/00RKh6NRMqc
• Intense Exercise
• Min. 20 minutes
Skills • https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-
living/fitness/fitness-basics/target-heart-rates
Breakdown • Paced Breathing
• 4 seconds in
Point • Hold 2 seconds
• 6 seconds out
• Hold 2 seconds
• Paired Muscle Relaxation
• Similar to muscle relaxation
• Add breathing and saying “relax” while
releasing muscle groups
Objectives
Learn how the brain and digestive system impacts one
another and what this does to our everyday lives.
Learn how the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous
systems play a role in this.
Be able to identify possible diagnoses when the “second
brain” is activated.
Learn therapy skills that can be utilized to regulate ourselves.
Questions,
comments…
Leslie A. Goertzen, LSCSW, LMAC
Compass Behavioral Health, Dodge City
lgoertzen@compassbh.org
references
• (2015, April 06). Retrieved April 06, 2021, from https://youtu.be/71pCilo8k4M
• (2015, February 02). Retrieved April 06, 2021, from https://youtu.be/aNCB1MZDgQA
• (2017, October 05). Retrieved April 06, 2021, from https://youtu.be/VzPD009qTN4
• (2018, June 01). Retrieved April 06, 2021, from https://youtu.be/6sEittuZ3GA
• 22, M. J., & 24, N. J. (2020, November 13). How Stress And Cortisol Can Affect Your Period. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from
https://nicolejardim.com/the-cortisol-connection/
• An Introduction To The Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System - iMotions. (2021, February 10). Retrieved April 6, 2021, from
https://imotions.com/blog/nervous-system/
• Cognitive Restructuring. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.advancewithava.com/ava-aid/Cognitive-Restructuring
• Linehan, M. (2015). DBT skills training handouts and worksheets. New York: The Guilford Press.
• Matthew Tull, P. (2019, August 08). How Traumatic Events Cause PTSD. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from
https://www.verywellmind.com/ptsd-causes-and-risk-factors-2797397
• Missimer, A. (2020, March 22). How to Map Your Own Nervous Sytem: The Polyvagal Theory. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from
https://themovementparadigm.com/how-to-map-your-own-nervous-sytem-the-polyvagal-theory/
• Mittal, R., Debs, L. H., Patel, A. P., Nguyen, D., Patel, K., O'Connor, G., . . . Liu, X. Z. (2017, September). Neurotransmitters: The Critical
Modulators Regulating Gut-Brain Axis. Retrieved from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5772764/table/T1/?report=objectonly
• Posted by Sana I. Powell, M. (2020, April 24). Cognitive Reframing: Quarantine. Retrieved from
https://curlytherapist.com/2020/04/24/cognitive-reframing-quarantine/
• Somatic Symptom and Related Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://step2.medbullets.com/psychiatry/120644/somatic-symptom-and-
related-disordersWhat Is the 'Spectrum of Dissociation'? (2021, April 06). Retrieved April 6, 2021, from
https://themighty.com/2021/01/spectrum-of-dissociation-daydreaming-disorders/
• Why do I procrastinate to the deadline and play, how can I prevent it? (n.d.). Retrieved April 6, 2021, from
https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20160422-how-to-overcome-procrastination/
