Stress is not the problem.⁣
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Stress is not synonymous with the sympathetic nervous system (though we sometimes interchange the two).⁣
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It’s the decrease in parasympathetic activity that is the problem.⁣
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The low tone of the parasympathetic system lends one to be more vulnerable to stress.⁣
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Stress is an unchecked or exhausted sympathetic response. Stress is perceived by what we feel when the sympathetic system is unchecked by the parasympathetic system.⁣
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With a healthy parasympathetic system the body is able monitor the information from inside and outside and adapt as needed.⁣
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So we don’t need to turn off the sympathetic response- it is hard wired, as an whole organism approach to mobilize and survive. You want that happening.⁣
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What we need is to improve the robustness of the parasympathetic nervous system. It monitors and adjusts specific organs, specific needs, it is in charge of the sympathetic breaks.⁣
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Some signs of low parasympathetic activity:⁣
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• allergies, sinusitis, rhinitis⁣
• frequent sighs⁣
• fatigue⁣
• tinnitus⁣
• difficulty controlling eye movements⁣
• vertigo⁣
• difficulties coordinating talking and breathing⁣
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With low parasympathetic activity, sympathetic activity is unchecked and there for “hyperactive”-⁣
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• edema⁣
• insomnia ⁣
• hyper vigilance ⁣
• elevated resting HR⁣
• constipation⁣
• cold hands and feet⁣
• exaggerated emotions⁣
• excessive muscle tension / tightness ⁣
• teeth clenching⁣
• shallow breathing ⁣
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With prolonged imbalance the sympathetic response gets exhausted and we can experience burnout, which come with a different set of symptoms.⁣
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However the fix is still the same. Introduce more robustness of our parasympathetic system. How do we do that?⁣
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• interoceptive work⁣
• social engagement⁣
• breath work- nasal breathing and longer exhales⁣
• feeling gratitude and being present⁣
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These are things that really stimulate rest. Rest is not just doing nothing or sleeping. It can be built to maximize our nervous system balance.⁣
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It can be specific and targeted just like performance. Do you know how to balance your nervous system?⁣