why do people get offered water after a traumatic event? Or when in distress?
In: Other
Swallowing tells the body it’s okay to relax. Imagine running from a person with a knife. Do you stop and take a drink of water? Nope, that’s for later when you are out of danger. So when you take a drink it’s signalling to your body that you are okay.
(Science-y version is Swallowing stimulates the vagus nerve and helps your system go out of the sympathetic response (fight or flight) and into the parasympathetic response.)
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