LESSON 2
What the Nervous System Actually Is
The nervous system is the body’s communication network.
It constantly scans the environment and internal sensations to determine whether we are safe or threatened.
The Central Nervous System
brain
spinal cord
The Autonomic Nervous System
regulates automatic functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing
The autonomic system has two primary branches:
Sympathetic Nervous System
Activates mobilization (fight or flight)
Parasympathetic Nervous System
Supports rest, digestion, and recovery
A healthy system moves fluidly between activation and rest.
Dysregulation occurs when the system gets stuck in protective states.