The Fight-or-Flight Response
When we perceive a situation as threatening, frightening, or challenging, the body automatically prepares for action to cope with the situation. The body makes internal adjustments, through the use of stress hormones and the nervous system, in order to be physically able to ‘fight’ the threat or to run away from it – ‘flight’. Hence, this internal adjustment is called the Fight-or-Flight Response. It is an incredibly instant internal change to give us momentarily greater strength and speed for the emergency situation at hand.
This response is innate and instinctive, just as we would find in any other animal, designed for our SURVIVAL, and as such is perfectly natural and necessary.
What happens
Acute exposure to threatening situations triggers activity of the nervous system and release of the hormone, adrenaline (epinephrine), resulting in the following internal adjustments:
-
Raised blood pressure
-
Increased heart rate
-
Increased breath rate
-
Raised metabolism
-
Blood supply diverted to large muscles and vital organs
-
Diminished blood supply to digestive system and skin
-
Increased sweating
-
Decreased saliva production
-
Either a shutting down of bladder and bowels OR increased activity of bladder and bowels
From the above list, it may be apparent that such minor symptoms as a dry mouth, stomach upset, bladder/bowel problems, poor digestion, and breathing difficulties could all be indications of stress.
Modern times
In years gone by, once we had tackled the threatening or fearful situation by either fighting or fleeing, then the stress hormones would recede and the body would return to its normal state of equilibrium.
Unfortunately, in the highly competitive times of today, the Fight-or-Flight Response is triggered much more readily and frequently by circumstances that are not necessarily putting our survival at risk. We now equate ‘survival’ with situations that are not threatening us with actual physical harm or death, but instead are jeopardising our lifestyle, relationships, work environment, financial wellbeing, health, self-image etc.
It is important to be aware that the Fight-or-Flight Response is just as easily triggered by the imagination as it is by the reality. Feeling fearful of events that 'might' happen carries the exact same weight of physical, mental, and emotional damage as the fearful events we actually experience. The nervous system makes no distinction.
So, whenever we experience fear, or feel threatened and challenged – no matter what the cause - the innate Fight-or-Flight Response will be activated and stress hormones released into the system. However, having prompted the stress response for reasons other than survival, it is just not appropriate or possible to fight or run away. The response is therefore not cancelled and will linger in the body. The necessary return to physical and mental stability is not achieved.
Repeatedly activating the Fight-or-Flight Response without finding some way of neutralising the stress hormones, will eventually bring wear and tear on the body, a weakened immune system, exhaustion of the bodily systems involved, and resultant ill health.
To maintain health, vitality, and wellbeing, it is obvious that the Fight-or-Flight Response has to be de-activated as soon as possible after its purpose has been fulfilled. Holding on to the feeling of fear, threat, or challenge beyond its initial impact is inevitably detrimental to one’s entire existence.
Relaxation to the rescue
Here’s the good news! There is also a physical response that we can trigger to counteract the harmful effects of stress, so that all systems can be returned to the desired state of balance and equilibrium; health and vitality can be restored. This is the Relaxation Response; and the Relaxation Response is exactly what occurs when we practice the art of relaxation.
