Finding Balance: How Your Nervous System Affects Stress & Relaxation 

When it comes to the mind and body connection, neither can be addressed as its  own silo. How the body responds to stress has a lot more to do with "just thinking positive thoughts." Frankly, toxic positivity kills. 

Your body has evolved to do amazing things in order to preserve your well-being. Our brains have not evolved fast enough to keep up with societal expectations and needs, however. The brain is a generalizing machine, and for the stressors of today it is almost too effective. 

But what is the Autonomic Nervous System?

Ever notice how your heart races when you're stressed or how your body relaxes after a deep breath? That’s your autonomic nervous system (ANS) at work, controlling automatic functions like heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

Your ANS has two key parts:
Fight-or-Flight (Sympathetic Nervous System) – This kicks in when you’re stressed, increasing heart rate and alertness to help you react to challenges.
Rest-and-Digest (Parasympathetic Nervous System) – This helps your body relax, slowing your heart rate and promoting digestion and recovery.

When stress becomes constant, your fight-or-flight mode stays switched on, leaving you feeling exhausted, anxious, or physically unwell. Over time, this imbalance can contribute to issues like high blood pressure, digestive problems, and burnout.

The good news? You can reset your nervous system with simple techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and mindfulness—helping your body shift into a calmer, more balanced state. A little stress can be motivating, but too much can take a toll. If stress feels overwhelming, you don’t have to manage it alone. Reach out. Let’s work together to bring more balance and calm into your life.