07/12/2022
Our autonomic nervous system has two modes: Parasympathetic and Sympathetic.
The sympathetic nervous system is our 'fight or flight' mode and works to optimize the body for survival in dangerous situations.
Unfortunately, our brains have a difficult time differentiating between the stresses of daily life and being in an actual life or death situation.
Because the sympathetic nervous system prioritizes survival functions, like increased heart rate and adrenaline, it also deprioritizes bodily functions that wouldn't be necessary in a dangerous situation, like digestion and bladder control.
When we stay in sympathetic mode our bodies suffer, showing signs like insomnia, digestive issues, anxiety, shallow breathing, high blood pressure, and eventually depression, chronic fatigue, and burnout.
Reseting the nervous system and getting back to the parasympathetic, or 'rest and digest' mode after a stressor triggers 'fight or flight' is key to avoiding these symptoms and optimizing your health and mental-emotional well-being.
Here are 5 ways to reset the nervous system and get back to a parasympathetic state of being:
🫁Deep diaphragmatic breathing where the exhale is longer than the inhale signals to your brain that you are safe to switch back into parasympathetic mode
👀Tracking, or the 5 senses grounding technique, focuses on the senses so you can come back into your body in times of stress. Move through your senses while becoming aware of your surroundings. Identify 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste
⚡️Shaking parts of the body or the entire body is a great way to discharge stuck and frenetic energy that can build during times of stress
🙆♀️Stretching has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system and release dopamine
🎶Humming and other activities that use the vocal cords stimulate the vagus nerve which directly activates the parasympathetic nervous system
