When someone receives bad or stressful news and is awaiting an outcome that may be weeks away, their autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds by activating the body’s stress response, commonly known as the “fight-or-flight” response. The ANS is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, including those involved in the stress response. Here’s how the autonomic nervous system may operate to protect the person in this situation:
- Sympathetic Nervous System Activation:
- Upon receiving stressful news, the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated, triggering the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) from the adrenal glands. These hormones prepare the body for action by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate, and by redirecting blood flow to the muscles and brain.
- Heightened Alertness and Vigilance:
- The activation of the SNS leads to a state of heightened alertness and vigilance, allowing the individual to focus their attention on the perceived threat and respond appropriately. This increased alertness may result in enhanced sensory perception, such as heightened awareness of potential danger or changes in the environment.
- Mobilization of Energy Resources:
- In response to stress, the SNS stimulates the release of glucose and fatty acids into the bloodstream, providing a readily available source of energy for the body’s cells. This metabolic response ensures that the individual has the energy necessary to cope with the demands of the stressful situation, whether it involves physical activity or mental effort.
- Suppression of Non-Essential Functions:
- To conserve energy and focus resources on coping with the stressor, the SNS suppresses non-essential bodily functions that are not immediately necessary for survival in the moment. This may include digestion, immune function, and reproductive processes, which are temporarily downregulated during the stress response.
- Activation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis:
- In addition to the immediate effects mediated by the SNS, the stress response also involves activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This neuroendocrine system releases cortisol, a stress hormone that helps regulate the body’s response to prolonged stress. Cortisol mobilizes additional energy reserves, modulates immune function, and plays a role in regulating mood and emotions.
Overall, the autonomic nervous system responds to bad or stressful news by activating the body’s stress response, which prepares the individual to cope with the perceived threat or challenge. While this physiological response is adaptive in the short term, chronic or prolonged activation of the stress response can have negative consequences for physical and mental health. Therefore, it’s important for individuals to engage in stress management techniques and seek support to effectively cope with stressful situations and mitigate the impact of chronic stress on their well-being.