Issue No. 2: Your brain still thinks a tiger is chasing you

Your brain still thinks a tiger is chasing you

Hi readers,

If you’re currently working on retraining your brain and nervous system, or exploring “root cause” approaches for chronic symptoms like pain, fatigue, GI issues, insomnia, and migraines, you’ve probably come across the idea that our nervous systems evolved to keep us safe.

As a brief reminder, drawing from my evolutionary biology focus in undergrad (shoutout Cornell University), the primary goal of our bodies was survival.

Our nervous system has two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest). Thousands of years ago, this system helped humans survive immediate threats.

If a tiger was chasing you in caveman days, there was no time for food, rest, or pleasure. All of your energy and focus went toward outrunning that tiger. Your heart rate increases, your pupils dilate, blood flows to your muscles, and your body mobilizes.

This is generally a very good thing.

But what happens when there are no more tigers?

What happens when our days are spent reading the news, feeling inundated by political unrest and tragedies around the world, scrolling our phones and feeling like other people are living more exciting lives than we are, or staying up late answering emails and finishing analyses for a boss?

For some people, these modern stressors go even deeper. Childhood trauma. PTSD from military service or accidents. The constant pressure of caregiving. Financial stress. Grief.

Here’s the thing I learned that, for the first time, made me feel real compassion for myself, and honestly for the entire human race.

Our brains and bodies often perceive these stressors as metaphorical tigers.

From the perspective of the nervous system, an alarming email, a painful memory, or a moment of uncertainty can trigger the same physiological response as a physical threat. Heart rate rises. Cortisol increases. Muscles brace.

The sympathetic nervous system turns on.

This realization helped me understand why so many of us walk around feeling constantly on edge (and why I decided to delete all of my social media in college and realized I was constantly anxious...)

And why, for some people, that prolonged activation of the stress response can eventually manifest as chronic physical symptoms. Pain. Migraines. GI distress. Fatigue. Insomnia. The body is simply spending too much time in protection mode.

A book that influenced my thinking on this is Scarcity Brain by Michael Easter. It reframes many human behaviors through an evolutionary lens.

Why do we tend to overconsume things we know aren’t good for us? Evolution. Why do we eat more food than our bodies need? Evolution. Why are we drawn to endless information and scrolling? Also evolution.

Many of these tendencies once helped us survive in environments where resources and information were scarce. Our brains simply haven’t evolved as quickly as our world has changed.

So I hope you take two things away from this.

First, some compassion for yourself (trust me, this isn't easy for me either). If you feel constantly on edge, anxious, or like true rest doesn’t come easily, there may be a very understandable biological reason.

Second, some hope.

If the nervous system can learn to interpret modern life as dangerous, it can also learn the opposite. With the right framing, realizing that the tiger isn’t actually there, and with repeated experiences of safety, the brain and body can begin to downregulate again.

Whether you’re doing that work on your own or through Nervana, it is possible to retrain the nervous system and restore balance.

P.S. After many requests, we’re now working on a monthly plan option inside Nervana so people can continue practicing nervous system retraining after completing the foundational program (after all, there are a LOT of stressors in this modern life). It will be a lower-cost way to continue the work, and we’ll offer a discount for existing Nervana members.

All the best,
Nora

Co-Founder & CEO, Nervana

Important note: Nervana is an educational nervous-system coaching program and not medical care. If you have new, severe, or worsening symptoms, please seek medical evaluation and follow your clinician’s guidance. This newsletter is general information and not medical advice.