Fight or Flight Response Gone Awry.
What's It Meant to Do?
The fight or flight response is a biological response of your body to acute stress. It is highly efficient for threats of danger. The threat may be real or simply a perceived danger. It doesn't matter to the body, because it responds the same to either. This response is quick and automatic. There is no time for thinking. The body suddenly alters its priorities from long term survival to short term survival as a result of adrenaline being released into the blood stream. Focus is now on the threat and nothing else.
Then this is what happens in the body:1 - Blood pressure increases and breathing quickens preparing the muscles for action. 2 - Blood is channeled away from the stomach and skin and goes instead to major muscle groups. 3 - There are changes in muscles in the extremities. Legs, hands, arms may shake - preparing for running and fighting. 4 - Digestive problems are common at this time - like upset stomach and diarrhea. 5 - Fat is metabolized to create instant energy.
6 - Palms and skin become clammy and sweaty. Perspiration prevents the body from overheating. 7 - Blood vessels in the skin constrict. This reduces possibility of blood loss in case of injury. 8 - Pupils dilate. 9 - Endorphins - the body's natural pain killers - are released to dull pain. 10 - The mind focuses on the immediate surroundings in search of danger.
What a miracle - this human body! All these things are done automatically to protect us from threats and danger. When the danger or perception of is over, the body returns to normal. At least it's supposed to. This is where the fight or flight response becomes a problem. In today's society it seems our bodies, instead or returning to normal, continue to sense threats and danger. Why is this? Researchers seem to indicate it's our harried lives, our inordinate work loads, our over booking of ourselves, our minds and senses constantly being bombarded with noise, lights, stimuli, information in an amount that is more than we are meant carry. People are walking around with in a state of various degrees of stress reactions going on in our bodies. What can be done about this? This process can be changed and reversed. A lot of it is in our thinking. The use of stress relief techniques can help complete the fight or flight cycle and allow our bodies to go back to normal as they are meant to do.
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