How nervous system regulation will help you change your behaviors and become who you desire to be

Regulating our nervous system is a key component to changing how we show up on a day-to-day basis. A regulated nervous system is so intimately intertwined with our behaviors, how we think, how we react, and how we feel. Needless to say - it can be a game-changer. 

Back story:

I was driving from my college campus back to my apartment in the lovely Austin traffic one day when suddenly I felt my body tensing up, feeling like an impending anxiety attack. My body was going into super fight or flight mode. After I was able to get my body to get into a calmer state, I reflected on previous experiences with my body - such as how as I kid I never understood how people could cry with just tears falling down their face instead of it becoming a full-body ordeal.

I thought “I think there’s something wrong with my nervous system, I don’t think it functions correctly.”

I knew I didn’t have a condition like Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis, but I knew something wasn’t right. I had no idea what could be wrong, but I felt something wasn’t as it should be. 

A few years later I’m on Instagram and as I scroll through my feed I see a post about nervous system dysregulation. AN ANSWER. It all suddenly made SO much sense.

Since discovering that post in 2019, I’ve learned so much more about nervous system regulation (NSR) and its intimate relationship with our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. 

This was back in 2019. Since then, I’ve learned so much more about nervous system regulation (NSR) and the intimate relationship it has with our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It plays such a vital role in being able to change our thoughts, feelings, and actions, yet it’s rarely talked about in the fitness, nutrition, or behavior change coaching spaces. However (!), as I write this in 2023, I’ve recently seen NSR being talked about so much more in recent months. I personally can’t wait to see the day we are all living with much more regulated nervous systems!

So… what is Nervous System Regulation?!

If you don’t happen to remember from 9th grade biology, we have what’s known as the sympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the “fight or flight” system, and we have what’s known as the parasympathetic nervous system, often referred to as our “rest and digest system.”

As with almost anything in the world, it's not this system OR that system. They’re both always “on” but one may be running the show much more than the other. Both systems are absolutely necessary, but where we can run into trouble (quite easily in our Western culture) is chronically being in a heightened sympathetic state.

This is… how do you say…well… not good.

Being chronically in more of a sympathetic state = a dysregulated nervous system, wreaking havoc on our physical well-being and behaviors.

We have to get out of the “go go go,” default stress mode that the way our society is built easily puts us into.

Again, we need both systems as they both serve us. Regulating our nervous system is getting out of chronically being in a sympathetic state and being able to easily go from one state to the other. In a dysregulated state, we spend most of our time in the heightened, stressed state and have to really work to get back to being in a mostly parasympathetic state. With a regulated nervous system, we can reach a heightened state while it serves us, and then go back to a parasympathetic state with relative ease.

How does having a more regulated nervous system help?

Making Tough Decisions: When our emotions run high, making difficult decisions or stepping outside our comfort zones becomes a real challenge. However, when we're in a regulated state, these decisions become more manageable. We can confidently take actions that align with our goals and who we aspire to be.

Enhanced Well-being: Being in a lower-stress state offers a myriad of advantages. It improves decision-making abilities, hormone levels, and sleep, and it boosts overall health. This is really beneficial for those who want to improve their metabolic health and/or have body composition goals.

Avoiding Burnout: By regulating our nervous system, we create a buffer against burnout. We can think more clearly, tap into our creativity, and navigate life's challenges with greater resilience.

Emotional Equilibrium: Heightened emotional states often lead to frustration, emotional reactivity, and feeling overwhelmed. However, when we regulate our nervous system, these emotional roller coasters become less frequent, allowing us to respond to situations with composure and grace.

Embracing Change: I firmly believe that nervous system regulation plays a significant role in our quest for comfort. It influences our desire to seek solace in food, mindless scrolling on social media, remaining glued to the couch, and sticking to more familiar and comfortable decisions even when they aren’t aligned with our goals/who we want to be. If we’re able to drop back to a parasympathetic state more often, we might be less likely to seek out comfort from being in a stressed state - making it easier to take action that corresponds with our goals.

So my friends, if we want to create change in our lives, let’s start with some nervous system regulation. If you’re curious as to what you can do to help out your nervous system, head over to this article.