To support a balanced nervous system, it's important to limit alcohol and substances -- here's why.
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CO-CEO, NEUROFIT
1 MINUTE READ
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UPDATED MAY 17, 2023
HOW ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCES AFFECT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
Chronic use of alcohol and other substances can cause damage to the nervous system. This damage can be both physical and chemical. Physical damage can occur to the cells of the nervous system, as well as to the connections between these cells. Chemical damage can occur when substances alter the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain - the chemicals that transmit messages between nerve cells.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS
In the short term, this often manifests as decreased HRV, a reduced Balance Score, and increased shutdown + fatigue responses. This is because alcohol is a depressant. It also impairs the body's ability to properly repair itself during sleep, which leads to a nervous system that then needs to work harder to repair itself.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS
If consumed chronically, alcohol increases allostatic load - the overall stress levels on the nervous system. This can lead to all sorts of second-order problems when the nervous system becomes chronically dysregulated.
When seeking to reduce overall stress levels and find balance in everyday life, this is why reducing alcohol and substance use is key.
80% of the nerves in the human body are "afferent" - running from body to brain. Under stress, when the nervous system and thinking brain tell different stories, the nervous system almost always wins.
NeuroFit is a nervous system trainer. Through daily check-ins, biometric measurements via your phone's camera, and tailored exercises, it removes stress at the source. Available for iOS & Android.
Dysregulation is when the nervous system stops functioning properly and perceives events as stressful or overwhelming due to high allostatic load (baseline stress level). This happens when its baseline has moved significantly away from the default ventral vagal state, often due to chronic stress, trauma, poor sleep, and poor diet. This brings about a variety of problems, including anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even autoimmune disease.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.
Discernment is the practice of avoiding that which adds unnecessary strain to the nervous system to ensure proper balance. With NeuroFit this includes avoiding online stress, alcohol and substances, eating within 3 hours of bedtime, and social fatigue.
Learn about the nervous system and relieve stress at the source with NeuroFit - available for iOS and Android.