Podcast: E18: Heartmath

Listen to the episode here: E18: Heartmath - https://apple.co/3zaL10u

Hello there, friend. It's Dr. Tiffany. I want to welcome you back to the podcast, Integrative Mental Health Therapy with Dr. Tiffany. This is episode 18, HeartMath.

In the previous episode, 17, we talked about HRV. I took you back down my training path, which I just feel so honored and blessed to have. I've been doing podcasts recently, been interviewed on podcasts, which is why I haven't been on my own podcast. I've been guesting on podcasts, participated in a summit, and did an interview for a private community addressing ADHD symptoms. As I talk to people, I recognize how fortunate I've been.

I have this brain, body, mind approach in the Doc Brown Bush method, and many people come to me from Dr. Bredesen's program, RECODE, which is Reversing Cognitive Decline, Dr. Karazian's Institute, and the Amen Clinics. I have this robust integrated process that I have seen change my life, my husband's life, and many clients' lives. This always makes me a little emotional because my husband has worked super hard to get his brain balanced, and it has paid off tremendously for him.

Just before recording this, I checked in with a client who had previously clocked all these hours meditating but still had the busiest brain, feeling like none of it worked. Years of meditation hadn't given them the results they wanted. I'm not saying meditation doesn't work; I think meditation does work. But I suspect that most people, especially those with TBIs, ADHD, and AUDHD, find it hard to harness their focus. I'm not neurodivergent, and I don't know that I'm neurotypical. My brain doesn't always feel linear, but I'm not diagnosed neurodivergent. I also have a hard time sitting quietly and clearing my head, except with HeartMath.

HeartMath has been an unbelievable gift. The client I mentioned earlier had tried all the meditation and was still struggling. I suggested HeartMath. As a HeartMath clinician and advocate, I believe in what HeartMath, the Institute, and the technology can do for your attempts to meditate. The client bought the technology, started using HeartMath, and began achieving coherence, where the heart and brain communicate clearly. Often, we talk about the brain being busy and emotions not being coherent or connected to the brain, leading to a war between heart and mind. HeartMath brings the heart and brain into coherence, taking you to a meditative state where you are calm and connected, improving your HRV.

The client said that for the first time, their brain is quiet, they are calmly meditating, and HeartMath immediately helps them get back on track when they go off track, signaling with a sound and visual indicator. Some of us need help with meditation. Meditation and mindfulness help thicken the prefrontal cortex, address ADHD symptoms, calm dysregulated emotions, and increase repleting emotions. But if you can't meditate, you miss out on these benefits. So, what do we do about that? Do we poorly meditate forever? I say no. I'm a problem solver, so I found HeartMath.

Due to health issues and previous TBIs, my HRV was quite low. I was having problems with sleep and trying all kinds of approaches to improve my HRV readings. I had my fancy PEMF mat, electrolytes, and vagus nerve stimulator, but I couldn't get my HRV to improve until HeartMath. HeartMath became my quiet time in the morning, my meditative space. It took my dysregulated, unfocused system and brought it into calm focus, improving my HRV. Higher HRV means better brain health, better physical health, and reduced symptoms. HeartMath tools and the app helped me improve my health, so I got certified and became a member of the community.

For those of you listening who are HeartMath users, I recommend using your technology twice a day, five minutes minimum. I use my HeartMath unit twice a day: 20 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes at night. It gives me peace, calms my system, and my Oura ring shows improved HRV. When I'm not consistently using it, my HRV drops. I've tested this with various gadgets like grounding mats and sheets. While grounding mats can help with HRV, HeartMath consistently shows significant improvements with regular use. Clients report increased joy, connection, love, compassion, and confidence, and reduced fatigue, depression, resentment, anger, and frustration.

HeartMath also offers techniques that don't require equipment, but I prefer my clients having the information and feedback from the biofeedback device. It helps them know they did a thing, similar to tracking a workout. HeartMath tells me if I meditated properly, if I was coherent, and if my system is more regulated. It alerts me with green, blue, or red signals, indicating whether I'm thinking about my heart space and focusing on positive feelings. This feedback helps me get what I need from my meditative time.

I often run my HeartMath unit while listening to a meditative audio track, using the different tones to know where I am with my eyes closed. This practice has helped my sleep, recovery, energy, brain clarity, reserve, and resilience. HeartMath is a game changer for nervous system dysregulation. Combined with the Oura ring, it allows us to see improvements in HRV, sleep, and healing.

I hope this message has helped you. My practice is currently at capacity, but we are looking at alumni groups for people who need to stay connected and maintain their progress, and small groups for those in active treatment needing nervous system support. If you're interested, please reach out. It is my privilege and joy to walk in my purpose and be here with you, talking about brain, body, and mind. I look forward to our next connection. Be well.