Fight or flight+
Let’s take a dive and learn more about how stress, this survival mechanism, has helped and what happens when it’s on the fritz. The primary goal of this system is to keep its humans safe from harm and ultimately allow them to survive for many more years to come. It’s super helpful and I find it totally cool BUT it can be hurtful when it gets activated too frequently. So, strap in 🙂
Who are the major players: amygdala, hypothalamus, and sympathetic nervous system (SNS). Don’t worry you don’t need to know these names or be super familiar with them, we are going to get to know them today. 🙂
The Amygdala
The amygdala has several functions but one of them is to make meaning of the sounds and images that it just received from the eyes and ears. They typically are the starting place as that’s usually the first info we collect and receive when we go anywhere. Whatever these appendages see, hear or both get sent to the amygdala. The amygdala then makes a decision about it. Danger or not danger? If danger then the hypothalamus gets involved.
The Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is thought of as the brain’s command center. It talks to the rest of the body and sends messages to the sympathetic nervous system (SNS).
The Sympathetic Nervous System
The SNS responds to these messages by delivering more blood to the body that likely needs more oxygen, increasing heart rate and breathing ability. It does amazing things like dilate your pupils to let in more light so you can see better. It slows your digestion so it can use that energy for survival instead of processing food which can wait. It’s basically giving your body as many resources as possible to respond to the danger.
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This all happens beyond fast. Our bodies have such an effective process that this whole cycle can happen without you noticing. You may think that’s bad but in actuality it is extremely helpful when there is a danger because usually one needs to act fast and the body is facilitating that. That’s why people can move out of the way of an object that could hit them without even thinking about it or keep running even after getting injured and the like.
The body wants you to be able to respond without needing to take valuable time to process. If you took time to process and think about what is going to hit you then guess what? You may not move out of the way. So, the body’s got you covered; it’s shutting down processing so that survival takes over. “MOVE!” It says.
It works! Until it doesn’t
Pretty great right?! Well, yes until- it isn’t. Unfortunately, the body can also deem things as threats when they are just stressors and not actually life-threatening. It will still go through the same cycle even if the threat is not a big, capital T, Threat but an in parentheses “threat”. A “threat” like a text from that person, you know the one; not knowing the answer to a question you’ve been asked; or when triggered by trauma. Which, let’s face it, SUCKS! This system has been over activated and that is why it is causing problems. There are ways to counteract this over-stimulation and respond to stress in a healthy way.
Learning about what’s going on can help you better understand yourself and decrease some of the blame you might place on yourself when you respond to stress in a way you dislike.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope this helps you as you take your own powerful and transformative journey. Per usual take what fits for you, leave what does not, and join me next time. Until then let’s stay social 🙂
