Fight or relax

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, salivation, perspiration, pupil dilation, urination, and sexual arousal. Most ANS functions are unconscious but a few allow a degree of conscious control. Everyday examples include breathing, swallowing, and sexual arousal.

The ANS is made up of two counter-balancing systems – the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. As a reaction to external or internal stimuli they release chemicals into the system. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for ‘fight or flight’ and it has the effect of standing on the gas pedal of a car. The parasympathetic nervous system serves to calm the body so that it can ‘rest and digest’ and this has the effect of standing on the brakes of a car.

“The best-odds prescription for a long good life is a baseline of mainly parasympathetic nervous system arousal with mild sympathetic nervous system activation for vitality, combined with occasional sympathetic nervous system spikes for major opportunities or threats.”

The task is to have a system that is balanced relative to the external environment.  What was appropriate in ancient times may not be appropriate today. Too much parasympathetic in the days of hunting and gathering and you would be lion lunch. The continual exposure to stressors in modern civilisation means that there is a constant high level of sympathetic and thus dis-ease and burn out.

Note: if you are feeling stressed and anxious take three long, slow, deep breathes. The conscious alternation of in-breath and out-breath triggers the unconscious ANS and brings the mindbrain and body back to balance.


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Ref: Rick Hanson (2009) Buddha’s Brain – the practical neuroscience of happiness, love and wisdom.