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Your Nervous System: The Drama Queen Running Your Life


Text on a blue marbled background: "Your Nervous System: The Drama Queen Running Your Life." Part 2 of the Stress-Less Blog by Point Clear Wellness.




Let’s face it: your nervous system is a little extra. It keeps everything running—your heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and even that momentary blush when you accidentally wave at someone who wasn’t waving at you. But throw in a little stress, and this drama queen can quickly lose its cool. When it comes to your health, the nervous system deserves your attention—not just because it’s the ultimate multitasker but also because it’s ground zero for how your body handles stress.


The Nervous System and Stress: A Tale of Two Operators

At the heart of your body’s stress response lies the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), which is divided into two key players: the Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). These two systems are like a high-strung overachiever and a chill yoga instructor trying to share the same office.


The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS): The Gas Pedal

The SNS is your fight-or-flight system. It’s the one yelling “Go! Go! Go!” when you’re dealing with a stressful phone call from your boss or that dreaded email from your family asking why you’re skipping the reunion—again. When the SNS kicks in, your body shifts into high alert:


  • Heart rate skyrockets to pump blood to your muscles.

  • Breathing quickens to flood your system with oxygen.

  • Digestion halts because who has time for lunch when you’re plotting your escape from Aunt Karen’s 20-minute voicemail?


The SNS is your body’s action hero, but it’s only supposed to save the day occasionally—not play the lead role every single moment.


The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS): The Brakes

Enter the PNS, your rest-and-digest system. This is the part of your nervous system that steps in after the SNS has had its dramatic moment. It’s like a soothing therapist saying, “Take a breath; you’ve got this.” When the PNS is in control:


  • Heart rate slows, giving your ticker a break.

  • Breathing evens out, helping you feel more grounded.

  • Digestion resumes, ensuring you actually process that lunch you inhaled earlier.


When these two systems work in harmony, your body functions like a well-oiled machine. But what happens when stress tips the balance?


When Stress Takes Over -Panic Attacks, Anxiety, & Existential Crises

Stressful moments don’t happen in isolation. That tense phone call or irritating family email doesn’t vanish—it piles onto the endless stack of modern stressors. Chronic stress keeps your SNS in a constant state of high alert, which, over time, primes your body for a host of issues, including panic attacks and anxiety.


Panic attacks are like your SNS hitting the gas pedal for no reason, flooding your body with adrenaline. You’re left breathless, shaky, and wondering if you’re about to pass out. Anxiety, on the other hand, keeps your SNS perpetually hovering on edge, making even small triggers feel like existential crises. Meanwhile, your Parasympathetic Nervous System struggles to apply the brakes, leaving you stuck in overdrive.


This imbalance doesn’t just make you feel frazzled—it can lead to long-term health issues like high blood pressure, weakened immune function, digestive disorders, and emotional burnout. And let’s not forget, your Enteric Nervous System (ENS)—your gut’s very own nervous system—gets caught in the crossfire.


The Gut-Brain Axis: When Your Second Brain Joins the Drama

Your gut isn’t just for digestion—it’s home to the Enteric Nervous System (ENS), often called your “second brain.” This network of neurons manages digestion and communicates directly with your central nervous system via the vagus nerve (we’ll dive deeper into the wonders of the vagus nerve in a future post). So, when stress hits, your gut feels it too.


Stress and Your Gut

Ever had “nervous butterflies” or stress-induced nausea? That’s your ENS responding to signals from your brain. Chronic stress can disrupt your gut’s natural rhythm, leading to:

  • Bloating, cramps, and IBS-like symptoms.

  • Gut-brain miscommunication, amplifying anxiety and even depression.

  • Imbalanced microbiota, where the “bad” bacteria outnumber the good, creating inflammation.


It’s a vicious cycle: stress affects your gut, and an upset gut sends distress signals back to your brain, making everything worse. But here’s the good news—you can break the cycle.


Craniosacral Therapy: The Nervous System Whisperer

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is like a reset button for your overworked nervous system. This gentle, hands-on technique works directly with the craniosacral system—the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord—to restore balance.


How CST Helps

  1. Activates the Parasympathetic Nervous System CST encourages your body to shift out of fight-or-flight mode and into rest-and-digest. By calming the SNS and activating the PNS, your body can finally hit pause, reducing anxiety and creating a sense of calm.

  2. Eases Physical Tension Stress often lodges itself in your body—tight shoulders, clenched jaws, and stiff necks are just the beginning. CST gently releases these tensions, helping you feel lighter and more at ease.

  3. Balances the Craniosacral Rhythm The craniosacral system’s subtle rhythm impacts your entire nervous system. CST helps optimize the flow of cerebrospinal fluid, improving the brain’s ability to communicate with the rest of your body.

  4. Supports Gut-Brain Harmony CST isn’t just about the head and spine. Techniques that target the abdomen can ease fascial tension around the gut, improving blood flow and helping the ENS function more smoothly. This supports digestion and reduces stress-induced gut issues.

  5. Encourages Emotional Release Emotions and stress don’t just live in your mind—they’re stored in your body, too. CST creates a safe space for these feelings to surface and resolve, leaving you feeling emotionally lighter.


The Takeaway

Your nervous system may be a drama queen, but it’s also incredibly resilient with the right support. Craniosacral Therapy offers a gentle, non-invasive way to calm the chaos, whether it’s in your head, your gut, or anywhere in between. Ready to hit reset on your nervous system? Book a CST session at Point Clear Wellness and experience the benefits for yourself.

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