How not to be a nervous wreck

Feeling frazzled? Something about the heatwave, the end of term, pre-holiday deadlines and political chaos has got us all jittery and running on adrenaline and fumes.

We often talk about our nervous system, from ‘my nerves are fried’ to ‘I’m having a nervo’. But how much do we actually know about the incredibly complex web of neurons and bundles of fibres that transmit signals all around your body?

Most people know the central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord. And I learnt about the peripheral nervous system (PNS) when chemo gave me a (thankfully temporary) condition called peripheral neuropathy, causing tingly pain and numbness. The PNS can be further broken down into the somatic, autonomic, and enteric nervous systems. Wait… come back! This honestly gets interesting.

Like everything, it’s an evolving field, but the nervous system is increasingly buzzed-about in wellness circles, and ensuring its smooth running is said to be key to good health.

‘Your nervous system’s job is …