Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System.

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​Hey, have you ever stopped to think about how your body just knows what to do?

Like when you're walking, breathing, or just sitting here reading this awesome article. Well, your nervous system is like the CEO of your body, calling all the shots. And guess what? Your nervous system has not one, but two parts – the revved-up sympathetic nervous system and the chillaxed parasympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system is like a turbocharged engine in a fancy car. It's the one that gets you all pumped up and ready to go, like when you see your crush and your heart starts pounding, your palms get sweaty, and your body goes into "fight or flight" mode. Thank your sympathetic nervous system for that rush of adrenaline.

Now, let's talk about the parasympathetic nervous system, which is like the brakes in that same fancy car. It's the one that helps you slow down, chill out, and recover. You know that feeling when you're just kicking back and relaxing, and all of a sudden you drift off into dreamland? That's your parasympathetic nervous system doing its thing in "rest and digest" mode.

But here's the kicker: sometimes, our nervous system can get a little mixed up and trigger anxiety when there's no real danger. That's when our sympathetic nervous system goes into overdrive, and it's like driving a sports car through a school zone - not cool. To calm down, we need to hit the brakes and activate our parasympathetic nervous system.

So, how do we tap into that chill mode? Well, deep breathing is a great option. You could also try meditation or a relaxing massage from your favorite licensed massage therapist. Who needs wine when you've got a skilled massage therapist to help you unwind?

Our bodies are pretty remarkable, and the nervous system is like the boss of it all. By balancing our "gas" and "brakes" - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems - we can take control of our stress levels and enjoy life in the fast lane or the slow lane, whichever you prefer. So go ahead, treat yourself to a massage and let your nervous system do its thing.

--Brett

​Thank you to my guest writer!!  You're awesome! ​