Less Stress More Rest

“Why should I slow down? My life is great, action, creativity, fast pace, always on the go. I love it!”

After some contemplation, I am endeavouring to answer the question that has been asked several times by clients who are experiencing health related issues due to stress. I feel it is a valid question and deserves an informed answer.

So let us take a look at the Autonomic Nervous System, (ANS for short or even “A”) which has its nuclei within the Central Nervous System. The autonomic nerve connections, from their central control within the central nervous system to their destination organs or organ systems, all include two nerve cells.

1. The body of the central nerve cell, is in the central nervous system
2. The body of the second nerve cell is located in its respective ganglion outside of that system.

Now I have probably lost you!

Wait, now how does this relate to you and your super human system that loves to go go go….

The Autonomic Nervous System, and we all have one even you, is divided into two parts.

They are called the Sympathetic Nervous System and the Parasympathetic Nervous System. The Sympathetic Ganglia are located near the spine and the Parasympathetic ganglia are located near the end organs.

SNS roots exit the spinal cord in its thoracic and lumbar regions. PSN is also called the craniosacral division because its nerve roots exit the central nervous system from the brain stem, and from the sacral end of the spinal cord.

Let us familiarize ourselves with the SNS since it is the part that helps you perform superhuman tasks when some part of your brain decides that you must do it. The SNS has little or no concern with the long-term effects of its demands, it only wants to get you through the moment. Often times the Sympathetic is called into action on a daily basis without being allowed to express that energy that it has procured for the perceived excessive demand. And we are an excessive culture, are we not?

This situation, when repeated over and over, results in an elevated baseline of activity for the SNS.

The result of this Sympathetic hyperactivity is Chronic Stress.

This level of stress then produces all kinds of stress related health problems, such as ulcers of the stomach and/or bowel, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.

So you see, the SNS lacks foresight. It spends your reserves to get you through the day or specific situation. It seems not to worry about replacement of the energy that it has spent or which it is chronically spending, as happens in the case of chronic increased stress. Look at it this way. If you spend all the money in your bank account, but do not take the necessary measures to deposit any money into your account you will not have money available to spend. So what do we do. We go into debt. We use our credit card. We borrow from the bank. Now if we continually pay off the debts as we go along we keep our stress level balanced but if we let the debt carry on until it is out of control we create a stressful situation. At this point, it may be beneficial to see your Autonomic Nervous system as your personal bank account.

Now, on the other side of the coin we have the parasympathetic nervous system, which has the job of restoring the energy reserves to safe levels after the SNS has spent them so freely. Essentially, the PNS is trying to keep up with these free-spending habits of the “S”. The spending habits of the “S” may vary with your personality. If you are chronically angry, fearful, guilty, etc., the chances are that your “S” will be chronically in a hyperalert and hyperactive state. If you are relaxed, secure, happy and accepting, your “S” baseline activity level will be lower, and therefore easier for the PNS to balance.

These techniques include many forms of mind-body integration work such as, Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, Biofeedback, Trauma Resolution, Meditation, and any direct connection with the natural world, such as a walk in nature.

Now you can stop here, or you can go on and discover the specifics of ANS influence on the Organs and organ systems.

The whole body is strongly influenced by both the “S” and the “P” divisions of the ANS.

When stimulated, the sympathetic nerves:

1. increase heart rate
2. increase blood flow to the heart muscle
3. increase blood flow to the skeletal muscle
4. increase skeletal muscle strength and performance
5. reduce blood flow to the skin
6. reduce blood flow to all other organs
7. reduce conscious thought processes in higher brain centers
8. shut down digestive processes
9. shut down peristalsis (intestinal activity)
10. shut down kidney function
11. open the bronchi
12. raise blood sugar and so on.

You get the idea. All processes that are not necessary for the immediate activity are inhibited.

Even healing that is in process is shut down!

The Parasympathetic nerves, when active:

1. Slow the heart rate
2. Lower blood pressure
3. Open the blood vessels to the skin and to the internal organs
4. Stimulate the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal system, enhancing peristalsis, digestion and elimination.
5. Allow for conscious thought processes in higher brain centers “Neurons that wire together fire together”

Most glands secrete when the “P” starts performing. The Adrenals Glands, however are slowed by the “P” nerves. Adrenals help the “S” system. All parasympathetic activities favor anabolic activity. That is, they favor the absorption of nutrients and calories and their conversion to stored energy and/ or the formation of protein building blocks.

So, you can see that the “P” is charged with the restoration of the body after the “S” has spent all it’s reserve, ie. energy and bodily stores as needed in crisis situations.

The result is, you’ve got it!

S T R E S S

“So slow it down, so that you have the reserve energy to speed it up and still stay Healthy and Balanced.”