We don’t know what we don’t know! Stress and the Autonomic nervous system

The concept of balance The problem with a seesaw is you are always off balance.

“Animals get diseases but only man falls into sickness” Oliver Sacks Dodge et al 2012,

The Nervous system The Nervous system in its most basic is divided into two main sections. The Central Nervous System (CNS) Brain, Brain Stem and Spinal Cord The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) Everything outside of the central nervous system

Stress Pain and Adaptation is an output. Many factors from the external and internal environment drive our response to stress and pain. The mind makes millions of decisions without asking our permission based on previous experience, memory, emotion, fear etc. Gifford 1988,

Fight or flight response! Stressor induces a fight flight response: 2 Phased Response: Neural Response – Hypothalamus sends a signal to the adrenal medulla releasing Adrenaline and nor adrenaline Hormone Response - Hypothalamus signals the anterior pituitary gland which in turn releases ACTH which signals the adrenal cortex to release Glucocorticoids (cortisol)

Evolution of Stress

General Adaptation Syndrome Hans Seyle – published his theory on GAS in 1946 and it is still taught in medical schools today There are three stages to the stress response Alarm Reaction Phase Initial response to a stressor – remember the bear and the physiological response Resistance Phase The body attempts to regulate the stress response and return to normal Irritability, frustration, poor concentration. Exhaustion Phase Continued stressors combined with an inability to return to balance (Homeostasis) Fatigue, burnout, depression, anxiety, decreased stress tolerance, Injury SELYE, H. (1946). THE GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME AND THE DISEASES OF ADAPTATION1. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 6(2), pp.117-230.

Where does Be – Activated and us as practitioners fit in. The body doesn’t know what it doesn’t know!

BREATHE!

2 Exploded State 1

Partially Imploded State

Fully Imploded State