Sympathetic Overdrive and Adrenal Fatigue
You might have heard of the "fight or flight" response. It is our body's natural response to a stressful situation. It is mediated by the sympathetic nervous system which controls a number of body functions to enable us to survive in a stressful situation. We come to a heightened state of awareness with our defense mechanism stimulated to optimize performance, keep us alert, and prevent injury. As a result we are stimulated and on edge so that we can survive a potentially life threatening situation so that we can take quick action to protect ourselves. From an evolutionary standpoint it developed so that we could survive an attack by a predator or extreme conditions,
The less well known side of this response is the "rest and digest" response which is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system. Combined the two systems are called the autonomic nervous system. The two systems balance themselves so that an individual can relax and rest after the stimulation of a threatening situation. Unfortunately in our society there is very little knowledge or utilization of the parasympathetic or relaxation (rest and digest) part of our autonomic nervous system.
In today's society we are in what can be termed sympathetic overdrive. We live on stimulants such as coffee, energy drinks and a revved up lifestyle that agitates us to the point that our bodies are unable to calm themselves down. We sleep as little as possible and are constantly running from one stressful situation to another. We are plagued by the stress of striving for perfection performing tasks 20 times: ten times in our head before the actual event, once during the event and nine times after the event as we analyze how we could have improved our performance. As a result we experience insomnia, reflux, headaches from jaw clenching, muscle tension and anxiety to name a few syndromes. The body has lost its ability to "rest and digest" and turn off the sympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system.
The stress of sympathetic overdrive can take its toll on the body causing accumulated maladies that can spiral into a chronic disease state. In addition sympathetic overdrive can lead to adrenal fatigue that manifests itself as lack of energy, lack of joy, decreased ability to handle stress, a compromised immune system and memory lapses.
Acupuncture can help the body re-discover an equilibrium and recharge us so that we attain a healthy balance of our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It can aid us to perform at a high level in our current society by discovering the rest and relaxation necessary to recharge and effectively meet challenges as they present themselves. This can be done in a non-stressful fashion if we develop the physical and mental tools to meet the adversity.
The less well known side of this response is the "rest and digest" response which is mediated by the parasympathetic nervous system. Combined the two systems are called the autonomic nervous system. The two systems balance themselves so that an individual can relax and rest after the stimulation of a threatening situation. Unfortunately in our society there is very little knowledge or utilization of the parasympathetic or relaxation (rest and digest) part of our autonomic nervous system.
In today's society we are in what can be termed sympathetic overdrive. We live on stimulants such as coffee, energy drinks and a revved up lifestyle that agitates us to the point that our bodies are unable to calm themselves down. We sleep as little as possible and are constantly running from one stressful situation to another. We are plagued by the stress of striving for perfection performing tasks 20 times: ten times in our head before the actual event, once during the event and nine times after the event as we analyze how we could have improved our performance. As a result we experience insomnia, reflux, headaches from jaw clenching, muscle tension and anxiety to name a few syndromes. The body has lost its ability to "rest and digest" and turn off the sympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system.
The stress of sympathetic overdrive can take its toll on the body causing accumulated maladies that can spiral into a chronic disease state. In addition sympathetic overdrive can lead to adrenal fatigue that manifests itself as lack of energy, lack of joy, decreased ability to handle stress, a compromised immune system and memory lapses.
Acupuncture can help the body re-discover an equilibrium and recharge us so that we attain a healthy balance of our sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. It can aid us to perform at a high level in our current society by discovering the rest and relaxation necessary to recharge and effectively meet challenges as they present themselves. This can be done in a non-stressful fashion if we develop the physical and mental tools to meet the adversity.
