Nervous System

What Is the Nervous System?

The nervous system is your body’s communication network.

It:

• Receives information (from your senses)

• Processes it (in the brain/spinal cord)

• Sends instructions back to the body

It controls:

• Movement

• Thoughts

• Emotions

• Breathing

• Heartbeat

• Digestion

• Stress responses

• Memory

Every feeling you’ve ever experienced — even during deep meditation — has passed through your nervous system.

🧠 Main Types of Nervous System

There are two major divisions:

1. Central Nervous System (CNS)

2. Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

 Central Nervous System (CNS)

This is the control center.

It includes:

• Brain

• Spinal cord

🧠 Brain

The brain:

• Thinks

• Interprets emotions

• Stores memories

• Makes decisions

• Regulates hormones

🦴 Spinal Cord

The spinal cord:

• Sends messages between brain and body

• Controls reflexes (like pulling your hand away from heat instantly)

Think of CNS as the “main headquarters.”

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

This includes all the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

It connects the CNS to:

• Muscles

• Organs

• Skin

• Glands

The PNS has two main parts:

A) Somatic Nervous System (Voluntary)

Controls conscious movements.

Functions:

• Moving your arms and legs

• Speaking

• Writing

• Turning your head

This is under your control.

Part 2

Autonomic Nervous System (Automatic)

This works automatically — you don’t consciously control it.

It regulates:

• Heartbeat

• Breathing

• Digestion

• Blood pressure

• Pupil dilation

The autonomic system has three branches:

1. Sympathetic Nervous System

(Fight or Flight)

Activated during stress or danger.

Effects:

• Heart rate increases

• Breathing speeds up

• Muscles tense

• Digestion slows

• Stress hormones (adrenaline, cortisol) rise

This is survival mode.

2. Parasympathetic Nervous System

(Rest and Digest)

Activated during safety and calm.

Effects:

• Heart rate slows

• Digestion improves

• Body relaxes

• Healing happens

• Immune system strengthens

This is recovery and healing mode.

3. Enteric Nervous System

(The “Gut Brain”)

Located in the digestive tract.

Functions:

• Controls digestion

• Communicates with the brain

• Influences mood

This is why stress affects your stomach.

Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic – Where They Originate

They actually differ by where their nerve pathways start, not brain side.

Both the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are part of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).

They are controlled mainly by deep brain structures — not by the left or right hemisphere.

Why It’s NOT Left Brain vs Right Brain

The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are parts of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

They are defined by:

• Their anatomical pathways

• Where their nerve fibers originate in the spinal cord and brainstem

• The neurotransmitters they use

Not by brain hemisphere.

This classification has been standard in medical science for over a century.

Why It Feels Like It Could Be Right vs Left

Here’s where it gets interesting.

Some research suggests:

• The right hemisphere may be more involved in stress response.

• The left hemisphere may be more involved in positive affect and regulation.

But:

⚠️ This is about emotional processing bias — not about sympathetic vs parasympathetic wiring.

The autonomic nervous system is controlled mainly by:

• Hypothalamus

• Brainstem

• Vagus nerve

• Spinal cord pathways

These are midline and deep structures — not left or right dominant in that way.

Many holistic teachings blend:

• Right brain = intuition

• Left brain = logic

• Parasympathetic = feminine

• Sympathetic = masculine

Symbolically, that can be useful.

Biologically, it’s not accurate.

And it’s okay to hold both:

• Scientific accuracy

• Symbolic meaning

But they are different frameworks.

Questions to ask your nervous system

12 Main Signs of a Dysregulated Nervous System

1. Constant anxiety or feeling on edge
2. Sudden mood swings without a clear reason
3. Overthinking and racing thoughts
4. Chronic fatigue or burnout
5. Difficulty sleeping or staying asleep
6. Feeling emotionally numb or disconnected
7. Irritability over small things
8. Digestive issues or stomach tightness
9. Shallow breathing or chest tension
10. Avoidance, procrastination, or freeze response
11. Hyper-independence (struggling to ask for help)
12. Feeling unsafe even when everything is “fine”

12 Main Ways to Regulate Your Nervous System 

• Slow, deep breathing to signal safety to your body
• Grounding yourself in the present moment
• Gentle movement like walking, stretching, or yoga
• Spending time in nature and fresh air
• Reducing overstimulation and digital noise
• Practising mindfulness or meditation daily
• Connecting with safe, supportive people
• Listening to calming music or healing frequencies
• Journaling your thoughts and emotions
• Resting without guilt and honouring your energy
• Self-touch or self-soothing (hand on heart, gentle tapping)
• Creating daily rituals that bring you peace and stability
• Your nervous system is not your enemy.
• It is your inner protector.
• When you regulate it, your mind becomes clearer, your body heals, and your intuition becomes stronger.