Sympathetic Dominance is a state where the Sympathetic side of the autonomic nervous system is over dominant and controls your immediate thoughts, actions and reactions. This state is often referred to as ‘Fight or Flight’ or what you may be experiencing when you feel ‘stressed’.
Taking things back a step…
The Autonomic Nervous System is the part of the nervous system that controls everything that happens in the body without conscious thought. It’s made up of two parts; Sympathetic and Parasympathetic.
These two parts exist in a see-saw like balance. However, when we are functioning in Sympathetic Dominance the body is automatically hurled into a state that is more designed for protecting yourself in a threatening situation or running from a wild lion!
These are normal, often life-saving natural responses to danger. However, modern life challenges can also stimulate these same physiological responses that were designed for short term protection. Responses to financial pressures, emotional upset and health stress often results in; Increased blood flow to the muscles, decreased digestive function, faster shallow breathing, increased blood pressure, a tightening of the calf and buttock muscles and a rounding of the shoulders and forward movement of the head.
The other side of the see-saw is where the Parasympathetic Nervous System lives. This controls four major areas;
Rest
Digestion
Reproduction
Repair
Sadly, when we function with sympathetic dominance these areas slip down the list of priorities for the body. The body finds it hard to establish balance and sympathetic dominance leads to a deterioration in health. If you recognise some of the symptoms or consider yourself to be ‘stressed’ it’s quite likely you need support to find balance and give your health a dramatic boost.
Previously it was thought that the Autonomic Nervous System was beyond our conscious control…it was simply automatic.
Discover more about Sympathetic Dominance here
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