Chronic Stress: The Physiological Changes to Our Nervous System

Chronic stress is more than just an emotional experience; it triggers profound physiological changes in our bodies, particularly in our nervous system. When we encounter stress, our nervous system kicks into high gear. This process involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which releases stress hormones like cortisol.

These hormones prepare us for a “fight or flight” response by increasing our heart rate and blood pressure and redirecting blood flow from our digestive system to our muscles. In the short term, this reaction helps us tackle immediate threats. However, persistent stress can lead to nervous system dysregulation, where our bodies remain in a state of high alert even without immediate stressors.

The Impact of Allostatic Load on Our Nervous System

Allostatic load refers to the cumulative wear and tear on our bodies due to chronic stress. When we are constantly under stress, our bodies adapt by staying in a heightened state of alertness. This increases our allostatic load, deviating our nervous system from its normal resting baseline.

Over time, this buildup makes our nervous system less flexible and more prone to entering fight, flight, or shutdown responses. High allostatic load means our nervous system shifts into a dysregulated state more easily, making it challenging to maintain the optimal “Play” state where we perform at our best.

Burnout: The Culmination of Nervous System Dysregulation

Nervous system dysregulation occurs when the body’s stress response remains constantly activated. This can lead to burnout—a state of physical and mental exhaustion where the body can no longer cope with stress effectively.

As the nervous system accumulates stress, it becomes more difficult to stay within the window of tolerance, or the range within which we can handle stress without becoming dysregulated. Higher allostatic load increases the likelihood of experiencing dysregulation, pushing us closer to burnout.

Expanding the Window of Tolerance for Better Resilience

Everyone’s nervous system has a window of tolerance—the capacity to handle stress before shifting into a dysregulated state. High allostatic load narrows this window, making us more susceptible to stress-induced dysregulation. When our nervous system is chronically dysregulated, we can get stuck in a cycle of moving between sympathetic activation (fight or flight) and dorsal vagal shutdown (immobilization). This creates a feedback loop that perpetuates stress and dysregulation.

The goal is to expand our window of tolerance, enhancing our nervous system’s resilience. By doing so, we can increase our capacity to handle stress without slipping into dysregulation. This involves adopting practices that reduce allostatic load and support nervous system regulation, allowing us to maintain a state of ease and flow, even amidst the challenges of our busy lives.

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