Understanding the Peripheral Nervous System and Fight-or-Flight Response

The body is made up of 11 biological systems that carry out certain functions. Each system must function properly in order for our body to survive on a daily basis. The nervous system is a communications device that receives, stores and processes input signals and responds in measurable ways to the kind and quantity of information delivered to it. The nervous system is broken down into two major systems. The two major systems are called the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS), but the system that will be significantly discussed is the Peripheral Nervous System. The Peripheral Nervous System is composed of Somatic and Autonomic. The Autonomic system is broken down into Parasympathetic system and the Sympathetic system, also known as the fight-or-flight response.
An individual might have encountered a life threatening experience, which has left that person drained as if they just ran a marathon. This individual just witnessed the fight-or-flight response that corresponds to the Sympathetic system. The Sympathetic system is part of the peripheral nervous system, which is broken down from the autonomic system, and it is accountable for any

The body is designed to allow for the PNS to be active the majority of the time and it limits the SNS to only life threatening situations. The SNS is catabolic and moves the parts needed for the “fight or flight” response, while the PNS is mainly used for recovery of the body and digestion of food. Even though the SNS is used rarely, the body does interpret all stress and has been a reason to call upon the SNS often. This is due to people assuming all daily activity as high stress such as deadlines, drinking coffee, and rushing to do them all at once. This is one of the main reasons individuals are always tired at the end of the day from the daily