Acu-nap: AKA, a nervous system reset
In today's fast-paced world, the relentless demands of daily life often leave us feeling like we're stuck in perpetual fight-or-flight mode - a term used to describe the physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived threat or danger. It is also referred to as the sympathetic branch of our nervous system (to get technical, the autonomic nervous system) and is an evolutionary trait hardwired into our biology as a survival mechanism.
If you have ever been in a high stress situation (likely all of us!), you will have experienced some of the physiological effects of sympathetic activation. These can include an increase in heart rate, dilation of the airway in the lungs, release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, increased blood flow to the muscles, increased blood sugar, pupil dilation, increased sweating as well as the inhibition of non-essential functions like digestion, reproduction, cognitive function, and cell repair.
Evolutionarily, this response was important when we needed to run away from a tiger, so blood flows to the muscles and certain bodily functions enhance to help us escape! While that kind of danger is not our current reality, the fight-or-flight response is still a part of how we react to the stressors of daily life - from work deadlines and busy schedules to traffic jams, financial burdens, societal pressures or family obligations - these modern stressors are equally as damaging. Although not as life threatening as becoming a big cat’s lunch, our bodies don’t know the difference, and will react in the same way. The problem is, in many cases, these micro-stressors of modern life can cause prolonged and persistent activation of the sympathetic nervous system, meaning a chronic state of fight-or-flight.
This chronic state of stress is quickly becoming the new pandemic of our modern world. As a species, we are simply forgetting how to relax, the ‘real’ kind of relaxing. While fitting in a happy hour drink after work or traveling across the country to go to your favourite music festival is important, we also need relaxation that involves slowing down the heart rate, elongating the breath, and allowing our bodies to repair themselves. The goal in relaxation is to activate your parasympathetic branch, the part of our nervous system (opposite to the sympathetic branch) that is responsible for rest, digestion, reproduction, sleep, and deep physiological healing.
What if your body is in a state of chronic fight or flight?
The goal is to reteach our bodies how to activate the parasympathetic state. It involves rewiring the brain, reminding ourselves that we are safe, that we are okay, that we are not in danger. The more we can get ourselves into this state of relaxation, the easier it will be for our body to remember how to do it on its own. Make sure not to confuse the feeling of relaxation with the feeling of an adrenaline rush - both can feel good - but they yield completely different outcomes on the inside.
What can you do to activate the parasympathetic nervous system?
There are some great ways to get yourself into the parasympathetic state, including breath-work, meditation, yoga or tai chi, or some forms of talk therapy. One of our favourite ways at Bright, is through Chinese medicine and acupuncture. Acupuncture has many benefits, including muscle release, pain relief, pregnancy support, and many more. However, as an acupuncturist, one of the main reasons I use this modality is to activate the part of the nervous system that your body needs in order to heal - through stimulation of the nerves and the release of endorphins (the feel-good hormones), it helps regain homeostasis of the autonomic nervous system and puts you into a restful napping state… hence the ‘acu-nap’.
If you haven’t given acupuncture a try, we encourage you to schedule a nap… we mean treatment… at Bright Health Co.! If you have any questions about acupuncture or are interested in booking a complimentary 15-minute consultation, reach out to us at info@brighthealthco.ca or book online.
WRITTEN BY: Alysha saks, R.aC
Disclaimer
The advice provided in this article is for information purposes only. It is meant to augment and not replace consultation with a licensed healthcare provider. Consultation with an acupuncturist or other primary care provider is recommended for anyone suffering from a health problem.