humming and self-attunement

I recently experienced a psychological shock. At that moment I forgot all the tools I had learned as a Trauma Recovery Coach, and in general life training. All I could do was yell and scream. My dog was going in circles in response to me. Then I noticed the more I screamed the better I felt. I began rocking and humming, and I felt even better. I had started to self-attune.

It's so fascinating to watch a baby or a young child when they are humming. They definitely know something that we adults forget over time - that the power to heal comes from within. Self-Attunement is the ability to tap into innate healing wisdom and your higher self. Humming creates nitric oxide which supports that process because it helps to relax the nervous system, calm the mind, reduce inflammation, produce happy hormones, and lower blood pressure.

Why is Self-Attunement Important?

To answer that question, we must first understand attunement. Have you ever felt like you were on the same wavelength as someone else? If you answered yes, this is because you were attuned to one another. Attunement is often found between parents and children, in romantic relationships, and close friendships. It’s that feeling you have when you “just get each other”. Overall, it is the power to connect with how others are feeling, and we cannot really connect with another until we can connect with ourselves. Self-Attunement is the process of turning inward to create connection, awareness, trust, and safety within. We can then respond, or attune, appropriately to ourselves in times of emotional disturbance, grief, trauma, or triggering events. More importantly, when we are self-attuned, we know when another person is equipped to be our safe space.

Why Humming? And How to Hum?

The simple answer is that it’s the easiest sound to make and we are the instrument. We need no one else, and we can do it anywhere. When we hum, that inner sound creates a vibration. These vibrations begin a chain of reactions within the body that help us to heal and transform our mood. If you search the internet, you will find many specific techniques. The truth is that the best way to hum is doing what feels right for you. Simply start by making the “mmmmm” sound like when you experience something you like. From there, change your volume, pitch, and breath. You can also make melodies or songs with your hum. Have fun with it. Find your own hum.

Conclusion

Self-care in the early stages of grief and shock are important so that the body does not create inflammation to protect itself, and so the immune system stays strong. Humming is the fastest way to get started, especially if it may be a while before you can get the support of others. Humming can also be used daily as part of routine self-care.