Modern understanding of stress increasingly centers on the nervous system — specifically, the chronic dysregulation that underlies many stress presentations.
The Nervous System in Stress
The autonomic nervous system has two primary states relevant to stress:
Sympathetic activation ('fight or flight'): When chronically activated, drives anxiety-type stress
Parasympathetic ('rest and digest'): The recovery state — undermined by stress
Dorsal vagal shutdown: A third state — freeze/collapse — associated with depression-type stress
Signs of Nervous System Dysregulation in Stress
Chronic hyperarousal (always 'on edge'), difficulty relaxing even in safe environments, and feeling perpetually exhausted despite rest.
Regulating the Nervous System for Stress
- Breathwork: Directly activates the parasympathetic nervous system
- Cold exposure: Controlled cold activates the vagus nerve, improving stress
- Safe social engagement: Co-regulation through trusted relationships
- Movement: Discharges sympathetic activation accumulated in stress