The autonomic nervous system has two parts that provide balance for each other: the parasympathetic nervous system and the sympathetic nervous system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares your body for arduous physical activity, whereas the parasympathetic nervous system helps your body to relax after danger has ceased.
Modern stressors such as heavy traffic, unpleasant exchanges, and being late for work can wreak havoc on your autonomic nervous system. The amygdala, which is associated with emotional processing, sends a signal of distress to the hypothalamus, the body’s command centre, which will send messages to the body through the nervous system to mobilize for danger. Commonly known as the fight-flight-freeze-fawn response, your body may experience dilated pupils, high blood pressure, an increased heart rate, and the feeling as if an alarm is going off in your body. This burst of energy allows your body to respond to perceived danger, usually by fighting or fleeing.
When you breathe a bit more slowly, a bit more deeply, until you’re taking belly breaths ,when your exhales are longer than your inhales, and when you massage the sides of your neck, you activate your parasympathetic nervous system, taking you out of fight-flight-freeze-fawn and allowing you to experience rest-and-digest, or a state of calmness, relaxation, and mental clarity. In this relaxed state, your body ‘s heart and breathing rates slow down, your blood pressure lowers, and your body focuses on digestion.
If you haven’t already watched the 1.5 minute video describing the 3 strategies, check it out, and let me know if they helped you to release stress!
Catherine Vincent: Intuitive Energy Healer + Divine Blueprint Guide 