By gas, I mean having feelings of nervous system overload. It can get so overwhelming, you just want to hide.
Before we break down what causes nervous system overload and how to deal with it, I want to define a few basic terms that will give you a reference point for determining which side of your nervous system you are affecting.
Our autonomic nervous system is divided into the Sympathetic and the Parasympathetic.
The Sympathetic side is activated in response to stress, resulting in the release of stress hormones (primarily Cortisol and Adrenaline), which increase your heart rate and blood pressure while also decreasing your body’s digestive and repair processes.
This part of your autonomic nervous system is best remembered as the “fight-or-flight ” response.
The Sympathetic nervous system’s main function is to prepare you to “fight” or “run” for your life. This is what would occur if you had to run away from a tiger. Your body would shunt blood away from your internal organs to the legs and arms, along with a rapid release of adrenaline and cortisol in an effort to get away from danger. (Good luck with that)!
How Much Stress is Too Much Stress?
We can’t live without stress, nor should we aim to eliminate it. Life will be stressful, and if it doesn’t show up in one area, it will surely show up in another. The problem is continued stress without recovery. When the sympathetic side is constantly being stimulated, the parasympathetic side is being suppressed.
Since the parasympathetic side is responsible for digestion and elimination, one of the telltale signs of an overstimulated autonomic nervous system is digestive issues and constipation. The definition of constipation is someone who is not moving 12″ of feces per day. This can be one 12-inch bowel movement, two 6-inchers, or three 4’s. But the poopie train should be arriving on schedule every day.
Stress and Memory
If you’re continually getting blitzed with stress, you’re continually releasing the main stress hormone (cortisol), which is directly tied to nerve cells in the brain, the hippocampus. The hippocampus plays an important role in the consolidation of short-term and long-term memory. In Alzheimer’s disease, the hippocampus is one of the first regions of the brain to suffer damage.
Age-related memory decline is one of the great fears people have of growing older. So that alone should be motivation enough to learn to do something about stress.
Signs You Are Overstressed
In addition to the digestion and elimination issues discussed above, here’s a short list of other signs that may resonate with you.
- Racing thoughts
- Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
- Brain fog (inability to think clearly or get things done)
- Irratibility
- Wired but not tired
Control the Controllables
We can’t live without stress, but we can and need to learn strategies and techniques for managing it.
Some of the things that contribute to being overly stimulated, we have direct control over. Here are some suggestions for you.
- No caffeine after 3 pm. That includes coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate. While everyone processes caffeine differently, caffeine has a half-life of about 6 hours. So, if you have a strong cup of coffee, which contains about 300 mg of caffeine, or some other form of caffeine past 3 pm, you’ll still have half of that, 150 milligrams of caffeine in your bloodstream at 9 pm, when you are supposed to be winding down. (I love coffee, espresso and chocolate, but if I consume any of those after 3 pm, I get a distinct rush and it will keep me from falling asleep on time). I only consume caffeine early in the day.
2. Stay Away From Screens at Least 2 Hours Before Bedtime
If you want to sleep better, do not take your phone to bed with you, and if you have a television in the bedroom, get rid of it. It’s a first-world luxury that results in a first-world problem.
Brett’s Bottom Line:
