Photo thanks to Unsplash - Ryan Hutton
Have you ever had the frustration of being misheard, misunderstood or even not heard? When there is a break down in communication in our relationships it can put quite a strain on the relationship. And you can probably recall a time when the frustrations of inadequate or dysfunctional communication with phone service, internet and technology have put a strain on you. Have you considered your body’s own internal communication systems and how essential they are? The nervous system and the endocrine system (hormonal functions) are two aspects of our body function that are of primary importance for this fundamental aspect of life - communication. This article will focus primarily on your nervous system and brain function for powering the essential services that each of us has to offer the world. Neurological communication in your body may seem like something elusive that is not in your arena of management, yet you may be surprised about how much you can do for yourself to support this essential function.
Let’s start with some fun facts …
The human nervous system has over 1 trillion neurons – about the same number of stars in the Milky Way.
This vast network of communication in the body is essential for our every move, every bodily function, behavioural patterns, decision making, learning abilities and emotional process. And here lies the key to creating more health and happiness in life.
Your nervous system is like a garden - It has support cells and growth factors necessary for flourishing.
There are cells like your lattice trellises and archways for climbing vines. And like an enchanted garden, the body secretes growth factors which enhance and guide the growth of neurons. It’s like sprinkling fertiliser on your neurons to support healthy body functions. The more you use your body to move, learn, sense, communicate etc. the more fertiliser your body makes to do those activities. - Therefore –practice makes perfect, Or at least better!
Nerves go through a pruning process to allow for more efficient functioning.
If you don’t use it, you lose it … so don’t keep doing those bad habits and patterns that you want to let go of and instead put your focus on the things that you want to be better at doing. Sounds simple, yet what can often make this more difficult is insufficient sleep. We need at least 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep to allow for a complete sleep cycle for neuronal pruning. Ideally 2 sleep cycles (8 hours of uninterrupted sleep) will give you optimal neurological health. Quality sleep is also important for replenishing the neurotransmitters which are also essential communication agents.
The nervous system functions like an electrical system.
It needs plenty of water to conduct its electrical message. And, like any other electrical system, it can get burnt out if there is too much electrical load for its functional capacity. In the body this type of burn out looks like anxiety and panic, then mental or emotional breakdown, depression and exhaustion. These are times when you are going to need extra support for restoring your neurological function.
Knowing all this, there are some key factors that can help with your internal communication systems which can then in turn support communication with others.
In summary, the 6 essential communication supports I would suggest are:
Get at least 8 hours of good quality sleep.
Stay well hydrated. At least 1.5L of fluid (not including caffeinated drinks)
Reduce the stress you put on yourself - Eg. don’t take on too many activities in your day and your life (something many of us have learnt with the global pandemic) Be mindful of any negative talk or pressure that you could let go of.
Allocate time in your day for relaxation, exercise and activities that bring you joy and help with stress relief. Meditation and quiet still time can be super helpful for hearing the communication that your body is giving you.
Listen intently to the feedback that your own body gives you about what it needs and what it does not need. Dedicate yourself to communicating your needs to others and to having your needs met.
Feed your body with the appropriate nutrition. There are certain foods that can help to boost your neurotransmitters. Fruit and vegetables offer a range of vitamins and minerals that are essential factors for neurological function. Certain amino acids found in protein can also be helpful. This is best determined by a health professional, yet there is also benefit in having an exceptional relationship with your body’s wisdom and what it is communicating to you that it needs. Get in touch with me for a free half hour phone consultation if you feel you need some clarity about diet and lifestyle practices that are most suited to you. I also have resources focused on nutrition for the nervous system that I can email to you.
Just like when you need tech support to get your computer up and running again, the nervous system can also require specialised diagnostics and re-patterning which is why I find Kinesiology such an essential service. By getting feedback from your nervous system using a muscle test, it can assess how your nervous system is functioning, as well as work out exactly what it needs to get back to its optimum function. Many people are curious to know how Kinesiology works and it is difficult to put in words my 20 plus years of training, research and experience. If we are talking about neurological communication in the body, the simple way to understand kinesiology is that I use acupressure points to assess and release stress in various neurological pathways and brain functions. When we calm down the brain functions that are contributing to the fight/flight/freeze kind of responses in the body, and support the brain functions that help us to process information in creative and logical ways, we are able to respond more appropriately and more gracefully to everyday situations along with stressful situations that arise.
Do get in touch if you have any other queries in relation to supporting you with your communication needs. I can email you a neuro health checklist if you are curious to know how you are travelling with this area of your health.
Soul Nurturing blessings from Simone 0427 320 302
Resources: Dr Charles Krebs, Brain Integration Manuals from the LEAP program, Taught by Jacque Mooney, Published at Bayside Learning Enhancement, Melbourne