When we think about stress what we are really referring to is the body’s Autonomic Nervous System. It has two divisions: the sympathetic (fight or flight) division and parasympathetic (rest and digest) division.  The Autonomic Nervous System functions at an involuntary level in order to maintain vital functions and keep us alive.  It supports our blood pressure and blood flow, temperature control, breathing, digesting and elimination of food.

The sympathetic division emerges from the middle part of the spine and is responsible for initiating our fight or flight state.  In short, it allows us to respond to danger and life threatening events, ensuring the body is primed to run away or attack.

Conversely, the parasympathetic division emerges from parts of the brain stem and sacrum (the tailbone).  It is responsible for replenishing resources and repairing parts of the body that have suffered during the day, including discharging accumulated stress. Examples of day to day stressors include work deadlines, travel disruption, accidents or injuries, ill health, relationship or financial issues.  

Ideally, both divisions of the autonomic nervous system work in harmony. For every stressful experience that activates the sympathetic nervous system there should be an equal amount of downtime for the parasympathetic nervous system to restore and rejuvenate.