I ask that you please do your best to bear with me through the following technical explanation.  I will be sure to follow this section with an easy-to-understand overview that helps piece everything together.    

First let’s reiterate that the psychological and physical aspects of our body cannot be separated.  That is because everything is connected through the nervous system.

Your nervous system is divided into the Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems.  Your Central Nervous System includes the brain and spinal cord, which work as your overall control center.  Everything we think, feel, and do is the result of a conscious or subconscious decision made by the Central Nervous System.  It is within the Central Nervous System that a decision is made on how best to respond and ultimately adapt to an “alarm.”    

The purpose of the Peripheral Nervous System is to sound the “alarm” when a circumstance meets a threshold that is determined to challenge or threaten internal balance.  If the “alarm” is activated, the Peripheral Nervous System then sends that valuable information to the spinal cord and brain to allow the Central Nervous System to determine how to respond to the “alarm.”  Once the brain and/or spinal cord determine what to do, they then send the orders back to the Peripheral Nervous System so that it may carry out those orders as planned.

But here’s the kicker: the subconscious and rapid decision of the brain on how best to respond to stressors is based on current, as well as past, thoughts, beliefs, experiences, and expectations.  Please keep this truth in mind.  If you allow it, this concept will have a massively positive and beneficial influence over future steps on your Path to Performance.  

Now let’s take the time to better understand the Peripheral Nervous System, which includes numerous branches and functions. 

The Peripheral Nervous System is made up of the Somatic and Autonomic Nervous System branches.  The Somatic Nervous System is the aspect of the Peripheral Nervous System that is responsible for transmitting sensation and movement information back and forth between the outside environment and the Central Nervous System.  This is the branch of the nervous system that is responsible for activating muscles and movements; however only if the Central Nervous System directs it to do so.

For example, if the Central Nervous System decides that the body should run, it sends a message to the Somatic branch of the Peripheral Nervous System which is then able to activate the proper muscles and movement patters that result in the action of running.

On the other hand, the Autonomic Nervous System branch is the aspect of the Peripheral Nervous System that controls involuntary actions of the body such as blood flow as well as organ function including heart rate, breathing, and digestion.

But the absolutely critical point that I want to make sure you understand is, the Autonomic Nervous System is the aspect of your nervous system that fuels your body’s stress response to a perceived challenge or threat. 

The Autonomic Nervous System is further divided into Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System branches.  Your Sympathetic Nervous System becomes activated upon your brain’s command to initiate the stress response.

When this aspect of your nervous system is stimulated, it causes a release of adrenalin accompanied by increased alertness and excitement.  This is your body’s natural reflexive approach to responding to a perceived challenge or threat. 

Think of this aspect of your nervous system as an evolutionary necessity for survival, and it is often referred to as the “Fight or Flight” response.  Picture if we were being attacked by an animal, or even another human.  Your Sympathetic Nervous System would kick in to either fight off the adversary or to try to escape it. 

The Sympathetic Nervous System does this by increasing heart rate as well as improving blood flow and the transport of other key nutrients and substances to the areas of the body that the brain has determined need it the most for survival and adaptation at that time.  Simultaneously the Sympathetic Nervous System reduces blood flow and other resources to the other areas of the body that the brain has deemed less important for immediate survival.

In some ways, you can think of the Autonomic Nervous System as fueling the desired actions of the Central Nervous System. 

In summary, your Sympathetic Nervous System regulates your body’s stress response by stimulating aspects of your body required to overcome an obstacle. 

Indeed it has been frequently stated that the “fight or flight” Adrenalin boost of the Sympathetic Nervous System is precisely what may make it possible for a mother to lift a car off her trapped baby.