Full Answer Section

Why Not Well-Adapted?

Our ANS evolved to deal with acute, physical threats – a sudden encounter with a predator, the need to flee danger, or a physical struggle for resources. In these scenarios, the rapid physiological changes orchestrated by the SNS are incredibly adaptive:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure to pump blood to muscles.
• Diversion of blood away from non-essential functions like digestion and reproduction.
• Release of stress hormones (cortisol, adrenaline) for energy mobilization.
• Heightened senses and cognitive alertness.

The problem in modern life is that our stressors are predominantly chronic, psychological, and non-physical. Our ANS often reacts to deadlines, financial worries, social media pressures, traffic jams, constant notifications, and job insecurity with the same physiological intensity it would reserve for a lion attack.

This constant activation of the “fight-or-flight” response, without the physical outlet it evolved for (i.e., actually fighting or fleeing), leads to a state of chronic physiological arousal. The PNS, which is meant to bring the body back to baseline, often doesn’t get enough opportunity to fully engage. This sustained imbalance can have detrimental long-term health consequences, including:

• Cardiovascular issues: Chronic high blood pressure, increased risk of heart disease.
• Digestive problems: Irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers.
• Immune suppression: Making individuals more susceptible to illness.
• Mental health issues: Anxiety disorders, depression, burnout.
• Sleep disturbances: Difficulty falling or staying asleep due to persistent arousal.

In essence, our stone-age stress response system is being continually triggered by 21st-century abstract threats, creating a mismatch between physiological preparation and required action.

Specific Example from Today’s World:

Consider the omnipresent phenomenon of “doomscrolling” or constant engagement with real-time news alerts, particularly concerning global crises, political instability, or even local crime.

A specific, very current example (as of mid-2025 in Kenya) would be the constant stream of news and social media updates regarding the proposed Finance Bill 2024 and the associated public protests and police responses. Every time a notification pops up on a phone about a new development, a graphic image of a protestor, or a heated political debate, it can trigger a subtle sympathetic nervous system response.

• The Stimulus: A news alert, a video of a protestor being tear-gassed, a tweet about a new tax, or even just anticipating a chaotic day due to protests. These are not direct physical threats to the individual watching their phone.
• The ANS Response: The body interprets these “threats” (financial insecurity, perceived injustice, social unrest) as danger. Heart rate might subtly increase, breathing might become shallower, muscles might tense, and stress hormones like cortisol are released.
• The Mismatch: Unlike running away from danger, the individual is likely sitting on a couch or at a desk. There’s no physical action to discharge the mobilized energy. The “fight” response is expressed as anger, frustration, or anxiety, but without the physical exertion to burn off the physiological fuel. The “flight” response is impossible – one cannot simply escape the implications of a new law or the constant news cycle.