Lets understand how stress affects us and what can be done to resolve the stress.
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is a vast network of nerves reaching out from the spinal cord, directly affecting every organ in the body. It has two branches, the sympathetic and the parasympathetic, which have opposite effects. The sympathetic branch helps us deal with stressful situations by initiating a ‘fight or flight’ reaction. While the parasympathetic system initiates subsequent relaxation.
In healthy people, the two branches of the ANS maintain a balance i.e. action followed by relaxation.
Unfortunately in many people the sympathetic ANS stays on guard, making them unable to relax and does not let the parasympathetic system take over. If this situation becomes chronic, a whole variety of stress-related symptoms and illnesses can follow eg diabetes, hypertension and decreased immune response of the body.
A therapist with the help of various techniques can help you to switch over from the sympathetic system to the parasympathetic system, equip you with coping skills and help you tide over the stress to maintain the normal physical, mental and emotional harmony of the body.
