The Vagus Nerve: Your Body’s Built-In Chill Button
If stress had an “off switch,” it would look a lot like your vagus nerve. This wandering super-nerve runs from your brainstem all the way down through your chest and gut, quietly managing your heart rate, digestion, mood, and even how quickly you bounce back from stress.
In short: if your nervous system were a symphony, the vagus nerve would be the conductor, waving its baton and begging your body not to play at full volume all the time.
