The Autonomic Nervous System: How to Balance Your Stress Response and Enhance Your Well-Being

Take Control of Your ANS and Improve Your Stress Response

Your autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a complex system that regulates your body's involuntary functions, such as your heart rate, breathing, and digestion. It has two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

The Basics. What The Sympathetic Nervous System Is Known For

The SNS is responsible for your "fight-or-flight" response. When you're faced with a threat, the SNS kicks into gear, releasing hormones that increase your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. This prepares your body to either fight or flee the danger. It also shuts down all ‘non-essential’ systems. That will include digestion and sex drive!

The Basics. What The Parasympathetic Nervous System Is Known For

The PNS is responsible for your "rest-and-digest" response. When you're relaxed, the PNS takes over, slowing your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. This allows your body to conserve energy and repair itself. In essence, protecting you from disease, disharmony, losing control (emotionally) and promoting happiness, contentment, connection and self love.

Ideally, your ANS should maintain a healthy balance between the SNS and PNS. However, chronic stress can disrupt this balance, leading to the SNS becoming overactive. This can lead to a number of health problems, including vulnerability to all disease and infections, anxiety, depression, and heart disease.

How Today’s World Impacts Your ANS

In today's fast-paced and interconnected world, you often find yourself facing an array of stressors that can trigger the activation of your sympathetic nervous system. The demands of modern life, such as work pressures, financial concerns, and social expectations, contribute to a chronic sense of stress and a sense of constant exhausting urgency.

Recent global events, including the call from WHO for a “COVID-19 pandemic” and the unprecedented (and now proven harmful and unnecessary!) lockdowns, have introduced new challenges and uncertainties into your life, further amplifying your stress levels.

The impact of lockdowns on populations, has been particularly profound. The abrupt disruption of your daily routines, social isolation, division amongst peer groups and families due to differing opinions, and for some, the albeit initial potential fear of an invisible illness: have created an overwhelming sense of anxiety and heightened your stress response. The constant exposure to distressing news, the loss of personal freedoms, and the uncertainty surrounding the future have all contributed to an increased activation of your sympathetic nervous system.

Furthermore, advanced technology systems including social media and new media, created a world that is constantly "on" for you. The constant connectivity and exposure to information overload can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unable to truly disconnect and relax. The pressure to be constantly available, the temptation of social media comparison, disagreements and the incessant demands of a digital world can all contribute to a state of chronic stress, perpetuating the activation of your sympathetic nervous system.

As the sympathetic response becomes more prevalent in your life, the prolonged release of stress hormones like cortisol can take a toll on your physical and mental well-being. It can lead to a range of issues, including fatigue, irritability, disrupted sleep patterns, weakened immune function, and even the development of stress-related disorders.

The Effects of the Sympathetic Nervous System

• Activation in response to perceived threat or danger.

• Release of neurotransmitters and hormones, including adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol.

• Increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration.

• Heightened senses and increased alertness.

• Mobilisation of energy resources by increasing glucose availability in the bloodstream.

• Disruption to your sleep patterns leading to insomnia.

• Constriction of blood vessels in non-essential organs to redirect blood flow to vital organs and muscles.

• Dilated pupils for improved vision.

• Inhibition of digestive and immune system functions.

• Increased anxiety, depression and trauma.

Recognising the impact of today's world on your stress levels is crucial. It highlights the importance of implementing strategies to manage stress effectively and promote the activation of your parasympathetic nervous system. Engaging in relaxation techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices can help counterbalance your sympathetic response and foster a sense of calm and balance within yourself.

Establishing healthy boundaries, remaining connected to those who support you, taking time off social media and other channels of ‘news’ and practicing self-care are also essential in mitigating the impact of chronic stress and nurturing your overall well-being in an increasingly demanding world.

The Effects of the Parasympathetic Nervous System

• Activation during periods of rest, relaxation, and recovery.

• Release of neurotransmitters, primarily acetylcholine.

• Decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

• Stimulation of digestive system functions, including increased saliva production, enhanced peristalsis, and secretion of digestive enzymes.

• Relaxation of blood vessels, promoting optimal blood flow.

• Constriction of pupils for improved near vision.

• Promotion of restorative processes, such as tissue repair and regeneration.

• Enhancement of immune system function.

• Promotion of relaxation and a sense of calm.

How You Can Mitigate The Effects Of Overstimulation of the Sympathetic Nervous System?

There are a number of things you can do to help balance your ANS and reduce your stress levels. These include:

• Meditation: Meditation is a great way to calm your mind and body. When you meditate, you focus your attention on your breath or a mantra. This helps to slow your heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing, and it also activates the PNS.

• Hypnosis: Hypnosis is another effective way to reduce stress. When you're hypnotised, you're in a state of deep relaxation and heightened suggestibility. This makes it easier to change your thoughts and behaviours, and it can also help to improve your overall well-being.

• Yoga: Yoga is a great way to improve your physical and mental health. It combines physical postures, breathing exercises, and meditation. Yoga can help to reduce stress, improve your mood, and boost your energy levels.

• Aromatherapy: Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to promote relaxation and well-being. Certain essential oils, such as lavender and chamomile, have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety.

• Massage therapy: Massage therapy is a great way to relieve muscle tension and stress. It can also help to improve your circulation and promote relaxation.

If you're struggling to manage stress, I encourage you to try some of these techniques. They can help you to balance your ANS, reduce your stress levels, and improve your overall well-being.

Meditation and hypnosis are two practices that can help you to balance your ANS and improve your overall well-being. Meditation helps you to calm your mind and body, while hypnosis helps you to access your subconscious mind and make positive changes.

These practices can help you to:

• Reduce stress and anxiety

• Improve sleep

• Boost your mood

• Increase your energy levels

• Improve your focus and concentration

• Enhance your creativity

• Deepen your self-awareness

• Heal from trauma

If it’s easier to just listen to guided audios for meditation and hypnosis, you can sign up to your Enhanced Life Membership today and get access to my professional recordings. These audios can help you to relax, reduce stress, and improve your sleep. They're also a great way to learn more about the ANS and how to balance it.