Physical and mental well-being have long been proven to be interconnected. While a lot of importance has been placed on diet, sleep, and movement, the conversation around the relationship between our nervous system and mental health leaves much to be desired. Understanding the influence of mental health on the nervous system is among the primary steps toward healing. To further our understanding, we asked Pratyakshaa Tewari, therapist at The Mood Space, some important questions.

How does our nervous system work?
“Our nervous system comprises two parts: somatic nervous system and autonomic nervous system. The autonomic system is responsible for regulating involuntary physiological processes - it is a network of nerves that controls the unconscious processes i.e. the ones that don’t require us to think about them to make them happen. For example - you don’t have to remind yourself to dilate your pupils when you enter a brightly lit area - it just happens as an automatic response,” explains Tewari.