Regulating the Autonomic Nervous System Is Like Raising a Child

When spending a sleepless night, people become more ferocious... and more foolish than usual.

This article is for such people.

By reading this article, you might learn some tips on how to coexist with your autonomic nervous system.

Prologue | Calling out to the "Hey, Autonomic Nervous System"

How many times have I asked it before?

Asking the autonomic nervous system to "please listen to me," and how many such nights have I spent?

"Please, I just want you to let me sleep."

It is 3:00 AM... even the plants and trees are said to be sleeping, yet I am awake.

My eyes are closed, but my body will not settle down.

Just like when a cat holds a grand athletic meet in the middle of the night the autonomic nervous system is full of energy again today.

The autonomic nervous system is full of energy again today.

"I'm begging you, let me sleep."

Such inner cries echo somewhat emptily.

On a sleepless night, my chest feels restless for no reason, my breathing becomes shallow, and my heartbeat becomes irregular. Even if I command it to "calm down," you do not listen to me. Just like a baby crying in the middle of the night. However, even though it was the middle of the night, I looked up the etymology of the word 'autonomy'.

What is the etymology of autonomy?

Based on the Greek word 'autonomos' (auto = self, nomos = law), I learned that 'autonomy means living by one's own laws, and it is like self-governance within the nation that is the body.'

In other words,

"Autonomy" is not "complete control," but rather "a relationship with another person within oneself."

Therefore, the autonomic nervous system is simply following its own laws determined by the nerves.

So, of course, it was never going to listen to me.

Chapter 1 | The Autonomic Nervous System Is 'Another Me'

Within our bodies, there is 'another me' that operates beyond our conscious awareness.

That is the autonomic nervous system.

Breathing, heartbeat, body temperature, blood pressure, digestion—it is a silent manager that quietly regulates all of these.

However, this manager is not me, but rather another version of me that is like a child.

It is sensitive to the influences of temperature, emotions, words, and memories, and its expression changes instantly.

If I get angry, my body temperature rises; if I feel anxious, my stomach hurts; if I feel relieved, sleepiness arrives.

If I try to control this child within me, he (the autonomic nervous system) will get upset.

In other words, I didn't need to 'discipline' him, but rather 'soothe' him.

But when I thought deeply about why, I realized something.

Surely, he is crying on my behalf.

Once I thought of it that way, I became able to cherish my own body more than ever before.

Chapter 2 | 'Regulating' Means Engaging in Dialogue

Many people interpret the phrase 'regulating the autonomic nervous system'
as if it were 'machine maintenance.'

However, it is actually closer to a 'parent-child conversation.'

'What's wrong?' 'Are you tired?' 'Shall we be quiet today?'

The accumulation of such small words of care restores the body's rhythm.

This may be exactly what it means totake care of your own mood yourself.

Of course, since the other party is a nervous system, actual verbal communication is not very effective.

Even so, the habit ofthanking yourself before going to sleepseems to have a certain effect, but that alone is not enough to be perfect.

For example, staying away from your smartphone or limiting caffeine to a certain time—each of these things was a way of speaking to your body.

For example, breathing techniques and meditation are effective because they give you time to listen to your body's inner voice.

If you have the capacity, please try writing words of gratitude to those close to you on paper.

But don't try too hard, okay?😉

In short, 'regulating' is not about 'controlling,' but about 'trying to understand.'

I realized that this is what it means to cherish yourself.

Chapter 3 | Consciousness Is a Parent, Not a Teacher

If you view the relationship between mind and body like that of a teacher and student,
the mind becomes too strict and the body shrinks.

It is better to think of consciousness as a 'parent' and the autonomic nervous system as a 'child.'

Don't just scold; offer support, watch over, and trust.

Even if things get chaotic, accept it as 'part of the growth.'

When you see the autonomic nervous system as a child, the relationship between mind and body feels much gentler.

Final Chapter | 'Autonomy as Symbiosis'

In the end, autonomy is not 'complete independence' but 'symbiosis.'

Mind and body, consciousness and unconsciousness, parent and child.

By moving back and forth across those boundaries, we create a single rhythm.

So let's call out like this again today.

Autonomic nervous system,
if you are wavering a little, I will waver with you.

If you are crying, I will rest a little too.

Because that is how we play the rhythm of 'living.'

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