Forgotten Relaxation
Is it normal to spend the balance of life under the influence of an adrenaline releasingcentral nervous system stimulant? Prior to climbing into bed to sleep is it normal toconsume a chemical that will make our heart pound up to 17.5 beats per minute faster,74that elevates blood pressure, restricts extremity blood flow causing the temperature of ourfingers to drop up to seven degrees,75 that accelerates our breathing, dilates our pupils,perks our senses, shuts down digestion, and triggers the release of glucose and fats fromour body’s energy stores?Two million years of evolution prepared us well to flee or stand and fight the now extinctsaber tooth tiger.
Our body’s response to sensing danger or sudden stress is activation ofthe “fight or flight” pathways of the sympathetic nervous system. In addiction tostimulating the release of dopamine, nicotine also activates these pathways. Nicotine’s arrival in the brain causes the release of noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which in turncauses more than 100 neuro-chemicals to prepare the body to run for its life or fight. Yetnicotine addicts will tell you that they need nicotine to relax!
Fight or flight is anything buta state of relaxation. We’ll talk more about this later.For now, try to imagine what it is like to go hours or an entire day without havingadrenaline being pumped into your bloodstream. What’s it like to stop beating a tiredhorse, to stop responding to non-existent saber tooth tigers, to again know full andcomplete relaxation for extended periods of time?
Our body’s response to sensing danger or sudden stress is activation ofthe “fight or flight” pathways of the sympathetic nervous system. In addiction tostimulating the release of dopamine, nicotine also activates these pathways. Nicotine’s arrival in the brain causes the release of noradrenaline (norepinephrine), which in turncauses more than 100 neuro-chemicals to prepare the body to run for its life or fight. Yetnicotine addicts will tell you that they need nicotine to relax!
Fight or flight is anything buta state of relaxation. We’ll talk more about this later.For now, try to imagine what it is like to go hours or an entire day without havingadrenaline being pumped into your bloodstream. What’s it like to stop beating a tiredhorse, to stop responding to non-existent saber tooth tigers, to again know full andcomplete relaxation for extended periods of time?