This post is a throw back to high school science class. I'm going to explain the difference between the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous systems. It's important to know about these systems within our bodies because they play a key role in anxiety, anger, tension, and relaxation. Knowing how something works helps us understand why something works.
The Sympathetic Nervous System is in charge of keeping us upright, breathing, and going. The fight or flight response is part of that system. Flight or Flight is how we defend ourselves in a dangerous situation. When this response is turned on, our muscles tense, heart beats faster, and our body prepares itself to fight (or run) for survival. Your brain sends chemical signals throughout the body telling all your organs and muscles that you are in danger. This is useful when there is actual danger, but unfortunately, some people's fight or flight response is always turned on or very easy to trigger. Panic attacks are this fight or flight system gone completely awry. It is a sympathetic nervous response. That underlying anxiety, constant worry, jitteryness, is all due to some kind of malfunction in the fight or flight system. At the end of the day, the "wired but tired" feeling is because your body has been pumped with adrenaline and other excitatory chemicals and it wears you out physically. But your brain is still pumping those chemicals so you're still thinking thinking thinking. For most western people, the Sympathetic Nervous System is strong, and the fight or flight response is very active. We live in a fast paced world where we skate from one activity to the next, navigating busy streets, busy people, and always thinking about our next move. Trauma and chronic stress can also cause the fight or flight system to stay on all the time.
The Parasympathetic Nervous System is what helps us fall asleep, relax, and calm down; frequently called the "rest and digest" response. It balances out the Sympathetic System. It's our bodies natural ability to relieve pain and tension. Most people need to strengthen this system. Guess how you do it? Mindfulness, Yoga, and Meditation. It has been shown (through science and stuff) that taking a few minutes to focus on deep diaphragmatic breathing, activates the Parasympathetic Response. It is like a muscle that requires exercise. It takes practice and repetition. But the more you work on feeling and understanding this system in your body, the easier it becomes to activate and use this natural calming response in times of stress.
You have the tools to heal and restore yourself already within you today. Like most people, you need to practice turning it on and strengthen those natural systems, but the foundation is already there. Humans have an amazing ability to heal themselves. It's so strong that any new medical treatment has be checked to see if it's really effective or a placebo. Activating and strengthening our bodies natural ability to calm, detox, and heal is vital to wellness, coping with stress, grief or trauma. The way I practice this is through taking time every day to practice some mindfulness breaks and connecting with my breath. Most days I do a little yoga and meditation too. You can add me on Periscope (@ccwellnessathens) for weekly guided meditations and yoga tutorials. By working with me one on one, we can develop a practice that fits with your current life and time tables. Please post any questions or thoughts in the comments below. I would love to hear from you!
Namaste!
~Valerie
More about the Parasympathetic Nervous System:
WideBrain.org explains the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PDF)
Neuroscience Introduction to Autonomic Nervous System
Psychology Today: 4 tips for slowing down
