These have been challenging years that we have all been through in diverse levels. From Covid whenwe had to stay at home, to the unprecedented War, to increased pricing of fuel and other day-to-daycost of living and more. That and all the other curveballs life likes to throw at us.This takes its toll on our nervous system.
Your nervous system is your body’s command center. Originating from your brain, it controls yourmovements, thoughts, and automatic responses to the world around you. It also controls other bodysystems and processes, such as digestion, breathing and sexual development (puberty). Diseases,accidents, toxins, and the natural ageing process can damage your nervous system.Doctors often refer to it as your “feed and breed” systemYour nervous system is a wild and incredible network of nerves that act in different key functions tokeep your body moving, responding, sensing, and more. In the simplest terms, the parasympatheticand sympathetic portions of the autonomic system are two halves of the same whole.Keep reading to find out more about how the sympathetic nervous system and parasympatheticnervous system (PSNS) keeps your body going.
The sympathetic nervous system is the fight or flight response in the body. In a situationwhere you meet a bear in the woods you’ve two choices Run from it or fight it, so yoursystem responds (how intelligent our Bodies are!!!) In that situation you will need your largelimbs and muscles to run or fight so your digestive system, shuts down, breathing becomesmore rapid, senses are more heightened, and we switch to a new level of on. Ideal for thatsituation when there is a bear in front of you and short-term. Yet too much like too much ofanything creates an imbalance. And Chronic Dis-ease can be the result.
The parasympathetic nervous system regulates the resting and relaxation of the body. Doctors oftencall the parasympathetic nervous system the “rest and digest” side while the sympathetic is the “flight or fright” Your PSNS starts in your brain and extends out via long fibres that connect with special neurons near the organ they intend to act on. Once PSNS signals hit these neurons, they have a short distance to travel to their respective organs. The PSNS is a “business as usual” system that keeps the basic functions of your body working as they should. Your PSNS is a vital part of your body’s key functions. When it does not work properly, you can face bodily dysfunctions that affect your health.
Do not worry if these feel out of reach…. keep reading, I have nice simple tips coming up to help youheal your nervous system. Covid as we have seen has influenced people’s nervous system. Long covid, fatigue, still notrecovered. Chronic lung complaints, chest not 100%.I have been there with Covid, and it took me time to recover fully.So, here are my tips
Stimulate it. The largest nerve in your body known as the wellness nerve when it stimulated, we can feel well, and it takes us into the parasympathetic nervous system.
When we allow our bodies to rest, we allow our bodies to heal. Our bodies cannot healwithout rest.
Get your 7 hours quality sleep at night, if that’s not quality for whatever reasons, take time in yourday to stop and be present with yourself and your breath.
Stop and take a deep breath in through your nostrils for the count of five and a deep breath out forthe county of eight and repeat these deep belly breaths five times that is a sixty-second micromeditation that will bring you into the present moment and activate your parasympathetic nervoussystem (love this!)
Get outside as much as you can and get direct light into the body. Barefoot walking is another bonus to get grounded, reduce stress, get a better night’s sleep and allows you to connect to nature. If you have not tried it, give it a go. You know that feeling after walking barefoot at the beach!
Feed your body well. Eat the foods that give you energy, typically energy typically the foods thatgrow in the earth. Remove processed foods.Often when we are sick, we want to comfort ourselves with junk food, eat crappy food and youwill feel crappy, eat crappie eat well and you will feel well.
30 mins a day move your body in a way that feels fun
The mind is usually the culprit who tells us things like you are your lazy when you rest, or you can belying around and not doing something, you’ve no time for this, it is too late, and all of that. Well atleast that is the way my mind used to operate. Not until I practised getting mentally fit. Recognizing the inner dialogue, practising meditation andmindfulness to get fitter mentally to be able to command my mind and my mind not commandingme.
To be Physically healthy we need to get Physically FitSameTo be mentally healthy we need to get mentally fit
I have learned through my learning and education in anatomy and physiology, yoga, and meditationthat the body has a conversation and if we listen the body does not lie to us. It knows when it ‘sitshungry it knows when it needs rest, it knows when to heal.
Quiet down the mind and you will hear the body. Pause. Find moments of your day to pause andlisten and ask the power full question. What does my body need?
Connect with yourself, your health, your health your gut, your gut your body’s needs.
I hope you got nuggets of wisdom from this Blog. Contact me HERE (link to contact page on website), I would love to hear how you get on or if youhave any questions. I am here for you! (Or something to that effect that feels like you)Thank you for reading