Understanding Ease

The structures of the nervous system are really simple:

• We have the brain and the spinal cord

• And then the nerves that branch off and extend to all the parts of the body

What is complicated, is how these structures function and thus influence the rest of the body. 

There are 3 MAIN functions of the nervous system

• The sensory function which is how to relate to the world around us,

• We have in INTEGRATION function where we PROCESS that information

• Then we have the MOTOR function. Once the brain evaluates sensory information and decide on action, it stimulates motor ACTION.

The nervous system can be broken down into multiple branches. For example, we have the CENTRAL nervous system which includes the brain and the spinal cord, and we have the peripheral nervous system which includes all the nerves that move away from the spinal chord.

This peripheral nervous system also includes sensory receptors and it can be further divided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system. 

The somatic nervous system governs all your VOLUNTARY movements. It governs the skeletal muscles and all moves you do on purpose. 

The Autonomic nervous system includes all the involuntary or automatic things the bodies does. It controls unconscious actions like the heart rate and digestive processes, and other faculties that are outside of conscious control. 

The Autonomic Nervous system further breaks down into the SYMPATHETIC and PARASYMPATHETIC nervous system. THIS IS THE IMPORTANT PART.

The autonomic nervous system is the STRESS/EASE system. 

This system supplies nerves to

• Heart

• Blood vessels

• Lungs

• Intestines

• Salivary/sweat

It is a control system that acts unconsciously, responding to internal and external stimuli by stimulating or inhibiting bodily processes. 

It is the primary mechanism in the fight/flight/freeze response (sympathetic branch) and the rest/digest/reproduce response (parasympathetic branch). 

These mechanisms are entirely controlled by what the brain perceives as dangerous or safe. 

When the brain perceives something as dangerous, it initiates the stress response:

• Heart rate increases

• Blood pressure rises

• Blood flows away from digestive action to large muscles

• Blood flows away from our hands which can become cold

• More ACTH is released which cues the release of cortisol and other stress hormones

• Glucose is released into the body for the task of running of fighting

• It stimulates our mind so that you are better able to perceive danger

• The thinking part of the brain is cut off because you need to be able to REACT quickly and not logic your way through this

• Eyes dilate so we can see better

• Immune system boost to fight foreign invaders

In the case of a physical threat, the body essential has supplied itself with hormonal superpowers to run away or fight. The important thing to realize is that the body is primed for vigorous movement and mobilization. 

When the threat of danger has passed, the body can relax because the hormones that have been released have been used and processed in whatever action was undertaken to get away from danger. The stress response has been completed. 

AFTER THE TREAT HAS PASSED

• Heart rate decreases

• Blood pressure lowers

• Blood flows back to digestive function and limbs so you can finish processing your breakfast

• Stress hormones have been used in mobilization and get processed by the liver and other detoxification organs

• Mind relaxes

• Mental focus and thinking processes recovered

• Pupils shrink

• Immune system calms down

• An ABSENCE of stress response activity

THIS is ease.

Kristen Prosen