System Overload

The final quarter of the year is a schedule-packed series of months with little time to rest and reset. We shift from holiday to holiday with celebrations that are built around consumption. Our gut biome is disrupted by the influx of late-night snacking, and an increase in refined sugar and processed foods. Our gut is a major contributor to our immune function and sends critical signals to our nervous system. Reductions in sleep, changes in weather and seasonal shifts in our circadian rhythms are all micro-stressors to our nervous system. We’re actively working to repair and find calm, yet when our tower begins to topple, our inflammatory response begins to build systemically.

Systemic inflammation, a low level of constant inflammation, may occur when the body’s internal system remains under stress. A viral infection or an unbalanced gut biome compounds the load on the body’s critical immune function. Illness, in a sense, is yet another stimulus that signals a threat response from our body’s systems. Our system redirects energy to respond to threatening triggers through inflammation. That compounding pressure exposes our weakest link, and challenges associated with active reflexes often manifest during times of illness. 

At Thrive, we’re mindful of the additional load that this season brings when we work to address reflex immaturities with targeted rhythmic movement therapy. For many of my client families, this is a challenging time in our work together. Regressions, in the form of behavioral challenges, occur when bodies are maxed and immune systems are under duress, which ultimately impacts the nervous system. In our practice together, we’re constantly watching for system overload. I encourage my clients and families to acknowledge the stressors that come with the season and above all else, listen to signals that tell our bodies when enough is enough.