What Is the Parasympathetic Nervous System Sympathetic?
When you’re anxious, the sympathetic nervous system activates your body’s fight or flight response. This response keeps you running away from a threat or ready to fight one, and can also make you feel high levels of anxiety, according to Forbes.
The parasympathetic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for controlling the body’s resting heart rate and digestion. This is the same part of your nervous system that regulates sleep and keeps you feeling refreshed during the day, as well as helps you to cope with stress.
What Is the Parasympathetic Nervous System Sympathetic?
Your parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) consists of preganglionic neurons in the brain stem and sacral spinal cord. These neurons carry acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that sends signals to organs to control and stimulate them. Then, these signals travel through long fibers that connect to neurons in nearby organs. Once the PSNS neurons reach their target organ, they release a signal that activates or suppresses the organ.
How Does the Parasympathetic Nervous System Work?
The PSNS starts in your brain and extends out via long fibers that connect to special neurons near the organs they intend to act on. Once these nerves hit the neurons, they have a short distance to travel before reaching their target organ.
There are also a few other organs that the PSNS affects, including your bladder and stomach. When you’re under stress or in a situation where you feel you could be hurt, your PSNS will send signals to the bladder to contract and make urination possible. It will also send signals to your stomach to help you digest food and absorb nutrients.
When you’re in a calming environment, your parasympathetic nervous system will kick in to keep your resting heart rate and breathing rate at normal levels. It will also help you to maintain a normal amount of blood pressure and sweating as you exercise at a high intensity.
Meditation is a great way to relax and decompress. It can be done any time, anywhere, but it’s especially useful if you’re having trouble with anxiety or stress. A relaxing bath, massage, or a quiet, peaceful place to meditate can all trigger the relaxation response in your body.
Do I Need to Mediate?
When you’re under stress, your nervous system releases hormones to control your heart rate, blood pressure and other bodily functions. The hormones are a necessary part of the body’s reaction to a threat, but they can also contribute to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
It’s important to know how the parasympathetic nervous system works, so you can learn how to use it to manage your anxiety and reduce your urge to turn to addictive substances. Understanding this system will help you to promote lasting sobriety by helping you to avoid cravings for drugs or alcohol.
The most common parasympathetic nerve is the vagus nerve, which is found in your thorax and abdomen and controls many of your organs. An estimated 75 percent of all the parasympathetic nerve fibers in your body come from this nerve.
