Question:
Explain how anxiety may be responsible for slowing down
the process of digestion
Replies:
Your body really has 2 nervous systems. One is the peripheral nervous system
that controls how you move and think etc. the other is called the autonomic
(not automatic) nervous system It controls all of your everyday functions
such as your heart, your blood vessel diameter and your digestive system,
etc. There are 2 divisions of the ANS. One is called the parasympathetic
and the other is the sympathetic. The parasympathetic is your everyday
division, and is usually in control. When you come upon a stressful or
dangerous situation, your sympathetic division takes over. It gets you ready
to "fight or flee". Some parts of your body are put on alert. Your blood
vessels constrict in some areas and dilate in others to get blood flowing to
areas that will help you in a dangerous situation and to get glucose (fuel)
to those areas quickly. Your heart starts to beat faster to send blood to
those areas quicker, your pupils dilate. Other parts of your body are put on
hold; those that aren't needed in a danger situation. Your digestive system
is one that is put on hold. When you are under stress, your body doesn't
know whether you are in danger or not but acts like it is. So if you are
under constant stress, your digestive system is affected.
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