A Dysregulated Nervous System: Being In The Passenger Seat Of Your Brains Conditioning

The Reticular Activation System (RAS),

 Brain Information Processing and Mental Health.

In our fast-paced, technology-driven world, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and exhausted with too much information to continually process. From the moment we wake up we are consumed with text messages, emails, alarms, to-do list, a hectic schedule, and the list goes on. These times of perceived overwhelm can leads to a "slippery slope" of negative thoughts. But... What if you are at the mercy of your brains conditioning? Almost like you are the passenger in your own brain and body.  In this blog post, we will delve into nervous system-focused approach to why life can feel chaotic and repetitive.

Why is this important? Chiropractic care doesn't have to stop at the spine. There is a deeper value hidden within relationship of chiropractic care and mental health. At Electric Life Chiropractic, we focus on supporting the nervous system and helping our patients thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.

A dysregulated nervous system can significantly impact the Reticular Activating System (RAS), which in turn affects how the brain interprets information and processes sensory input. This dysregulation can contribute to negative mental health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, stress, and difficulties with attention and emotional regulation. Let's break this down step-by-step to understand the relationship between a dysregulated nervous system, the RAS, and mental health.

1. Understanding the Reticular Activating System (RAS)

• The RAS is a network of neurons located in the brainstem that plays a crucial role in regulating arousal, attention, and sensory perception. It acts as a filter for the information that enters the conscious mind, deciding what is important for focus and action.

• The RAS helps the brain to be alert to changes in the environment, and it is directly connected to the level of consciousness, focus, and attention a person has at any given moment.

  
  

2. How the RAS Works

• The RAS receives input from various sensory systems (such as sight, sound, touch, and smell) and filters them based on relevance. It decides which stimuli should be prioritized and sent to the brain for conscious processing.

• For example, when you're in a crowded room, your RAS helps you focus on a conversation, even if there are distractions around you. However, when you’re stressed or overwhelmed, your RAS might begin to misinterpret environmental cues as threats or overwhelming, increasing your stress response.

  
  

3. Nervous System Dysregulation and Its Impact on the RAS

• The nervous system is responsible for regulating the body’s response to stress and environmental stimuli. When it becomes dysregulated—often due to prolonged stress, trauma, or physical imbalances (like subluxations or chronic pain)—it affects the function of the RAS.

• Dysregulation typically occurs when the nervous system becomes stuck in a "fight-or-flight" (sympathetic) state, meaning it’s constantly alert and scanning the environment for danger, even when there is no actual threat. This state of hyper-arousal can lead to the RAS becoming overly sensitive, amplifying perceived threats or challenges.

• How Dysregulation Affects the RAS:

  • Overactivity of the RAS: When the nervous system is in a chronic state of stress, the RAS may become hyperactive, constantly searching for threats. This can lead to an overestimation of danger in normal situations, resulting in heightened anxiety, irritability, and an inability to focus on calm or neutral stimuli.

  • Impaired filtering of sensory information: A dysregulated nervous system can make the RAS less effective at filtering out irrelevant or non-threatening stimuli. As a result, a person may become easily overwhelmed by sensory input that others might not even notice.

  • Reinforced negative thinking patterns: The brain, influenced by the RAS, may become fixated on negative or threatening thoughts. If the RAS is continually prioritizing perceived threats, this can lead to cognitive distortions, such as catastrophizing (expecting the worst), rumination (dwelling on negative thoughts), and an inability to shift focus away from perceived threats.

    
    

4. Impact of Dysregulated RAS on Mental Health

When the RAS is dysregulated due to nervous system imbalance, it can have a profound impact on mental health, leading to various psychological symptoms and disorders. Here's how this plays out:

• Increased Anxiety: As the RAS becomes more sensitive to potential threats, it heightens the body's "fight-or-flight" response. This can cause feelings of anxiety, restlessness, and a constant sense of danger, even in safe environments. The brain misinterprets normal situations as threats, which increases the intensity of the anxiety response.

• Depression: Chronic stress and dysregulation of the RAS can also be linked to depression. When the RAS is constantly scanning for threats and reinforcing negative thoughts, it can lead to negative thought patterns that reinforce feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and lack of motivation—key components of depression.

• Difficulty with Focus and Attention: The RAS plays a key role in regulating focus. If it's constantly being triggered by stress and dysregulation, it can become difficult to focus on tasks or engage in conversations without feeling distracted or overwhelmed. This is commonly seen in conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), where an overactive or underactive RAS can impair attention and cognitive processing.

• Emotional Dysregulation: The RAS also influences emotional processing in the brain, particularly in the limbic system (the emotional center). Dysregulation of the nervous system and RAS can make it harder for individuals to regulate their emotions, leading to mood swings, irritability, and emotional outbursts.

• Increased Stress Response: The constant activation of the sympathetic nervous system (via the RAS) can lead to a persistent stress response. This includes elevated heart rate, shallow breathing, and a constant feeling of being "on edge." Over time, this can lead to burnout, chronic fatigue, and increased susceptibility to illness due to a compromised immune system.

Conclusion

A dysregulated nervous system can cause the Reticular Activating System (RAS) to become overly sensitive, making the brain interpret ordinary stimuli as threats, leading to increased anxiety, stress, and emotional instability.

This imbalance can significantly affect mental health, leading to difficulty focusing, heightened emotional reactions, and negative thinking patterns.

Chiropractic adjustments can help regulate the nervous system by restoring spinal alignment, reducing stress, and improving the communication between the brain and the body, ultimately helping to calm the RAS and improve mental health outcomes. Your brain and body are able to become more adaptable to stimulus and can properly manage without overwhelm.