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Welcome to our first video on stress management. In this blog post, I’ll cover the fundamentals of the autonomic nervous system and discuss why, unlike dogs, people often struggle to shake off stress.
Why Dogs Don’t Get Ulcers but People Do
Ever wonder why your dog can shake off stress so easily? If someone knocks on your door, your dog barks and gets agitated. Once the commotion is over, they shake it off, lie down, and sleep peacefully. On the other hand, a heated argument with your spouse might keep you up all night. Let's dig into why this happens.
The Animal vs. Human Nervous System
Animals have a nervous system that directly responds to their environment – it’s instinctual. Stress arises, then it dissipates, and they enter a recovery state almost immediately. For humans, our self-consciousness makes things more complex.
We don’t just assess and respond to threats; we also label and internalize them. This ability to ruminate and anticipate future stress – called anticipatory stress – means we can choose to hold on to stress far longer than necessary.
The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System
Managing stress more effectively starts with understanding the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Extensive research shows that an imbalanced ANS can lead to chronic disease, cognitive impairment, and a suppressed immune system.
What Is the Autonomic Nervous System?
The ANS is a network of cells that controls the body’s internal state, regulating processes outside of your conscious awareness to maintain internal balance or homeostasis. It’s part of the peripheral nervous system and influences organs like the stomach, heart, and lungs.
The Two Subsystems: Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Imagine a teeter-totter: on one side is the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which prepares your body to react to environmental changes. This part of the ANS increases your heart rate and preps you for flight or fight. The SNS is like the gas pedal on a car.
On the other side is the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), responsible for resting, digesting, and restoring. This system acts as the brakes, helping you relax after the threat has passed. At Tiger Medical Institute, we often find people are stuck in a state of sympathetic tone – they’re constantly pressing the gas pedal with little recovery.
Balancing the ANS
It’s critical to balance both sides of the ANS to maintain optimum health. No one can eliminate stress entirely, but you can change your reaction and relationship to it.
Regulating Internal Processes
Here’s a list of what the ANS regulates:
- Body temperature
- Heart rate
- Respiration rate
- Metabolism
- Glucose levels
- Digestion
- Blood acidity levels
- Water and electrolytes
Balancing your ANS consistently will optimize your metabolism, regulate your weight, improve glucose levels, and aid digestion.
Understanding Stress
Stress Statistics
77% of Americans report experiencing physical symptoms from stress, while 73% report psychological symptoms.
Definition of Stress
According to the late Dr. Bruce McEwen, a professor of neuroendocrinology, stress is a brain and body response aimed at promoting adaptation in the face of real or perceived threats to homeostasis.
Types of Stress: Good, Tolerable, and Toxic
- Good Stress: This occurs during events like job interviews or performances. Your body adapts and meets the challenge, then relaxes and returns to normal.
- Tolerable Stress: This follows significant loss, such as a relationship breakup or job loss. Though it can cause short-term emotional and physical damage, you can adapt and bounce back with the right resources.
- Toxic Stress: Prolonged and severe stress, often without the resources to manage it. This can lead to chronic disease, cognitive impairment, permanent immune suppression, and impaired performance. It may even result in fatal outcomes like strokes or heart attacks.
The Stress Response
When you perceive a threat, your SNS activates, preparing your body for action by:
- Elevating your heart rate
- Expanding your airways for easier breathing
- Releasing stored energy
- Increasing muscle strength
- Slowing digestion
However, humans can create perceived stress in their minds, leading to chronic stress and illness.
The Price of Adaptation
Dr. McEwen coined the term allostatic load, the wear and tear on the body due to chronic stress. Like driving a car with the gas pedal and brakes pressed simultaneously, it accelerates wear and leads to health issues.
Conclusion: Managing Stress for Long-Term Health
Failing to manage stress can literally kill you. Learning to balance your ANS is a core skill, and we cover this in detail in my book, Unleash the Peak Performer within You, available on Amazon, and through this video series.
Developing these skills will reduce your risk of chronic disease and accelerate aging. Remember, achieving great visions takes time and focused work, heavily dependent on your ability to manage stress and maintain good health.
In our next video, we’ll dive into how you can actively manage stress and balance your ANS through diaphragmic breathing. Stay tuned, and take care!
"Learning to manage stress is not about eliminating it but about changing your reaction and relationship with it."- Steve Adams
Hope this blog post helps you understand the fundamentals of the autonomic nervous system and the importance of stress management. Have a great day!
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A Word From Our Founder, Steve Adams
Hey there! I'm Steve
I spent 20 years in high-pressure corporate banking, constantly traveling and neglecting my health. By 50, I was sleep-deprived, getting only 2-3 hours of sleep despite lying in bed for six hours. I suffered from acid reflux, IBS, cramping, constipation, anxiety, fatigue, and brain fog, affecting my performance and relationships.
Then I found a Functional Medicine Doctor
He conducted extensive testing on genetics, gut biome health, and hormones. He discovered several issues and created a personalized medical plan and coached me for a year on lifestyle changes. The results were transformative!
Today, I feel like a new person. I can engage in high-intensity interval training, weight lifting, and running without any symptoms. Inspired by this journey, I founded Tiger Medical Institute to help others achieve similar health transformations - to help you live healthier, better life!
