Fight or flight, what does it all mean?

So most of us have heard of the “fight of flight” theory from our science lessons back in our school days, but what exactly does it mean? Where did it come from? And what goes on in the human body when we activate this response?

The Physiologist Walter Cannon first coined the term “fight or flight” back in the 1920’s.  His research looked into the acute physiological stress response of animals when dealing with emergencies.  An example of this maybe a zebra running for its life from a Lion across the Savanna desert as explained in the proclaimed book on understanding stress  “Why Zebras don’t get ulcers” by Robert Sapolsky.

How you body reacts

The fight or flight response is described as the physiological reaction that the body undergoes in response to a perceived danger, attack, or threat to our survival.  Our brain activates part of the automatic nervous system known as the “sympathetic nervous system” which prepares our body to either stay and fight, or flee and make flight.  Messages from the brain are sent through projections, which exit the spinal cord and branch out to almost every organ, blood vessel, and sweat gland in our body…..Amazing hey!  Many complex physiological responses occur which involves release of many chemical messengers called neurotransmitters such as dopamine, and serotonin and hormones called catecholamines, specifically adrenalin, and noradrenalin and other hormones such as testosterone, oestrogen, and cortisol.

Collectively all of these hormones produce a cascade of physiological and emotional responses such as increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugars, and mobilising fats in order to provide our body with more energy.  Blood flow is redistributed towards our working muscles and away from vital organs. Increased muscle tension occurs to facilitate increased speed and strength, and our blood clotting increases to prevent excessive blood loss in the case of physical injury.   

We personally understand these physiological responses as feelings in our bodies, which occur automatically, without our conscious instruction. Such examples include our heart racing, our hairs standing on end, Goosebumps, or sweating. Other common responses are when we experience sweaty palms, loss of our voice, or we may experience facial spasms when we are nervous or anxious about a particular stressful situation such as a job interview.

There’s a problem

Understanding the “fight or flight” response in this way allows us to appreciate what an amazing and fascinating system it is.  And it is clear to see how it would really benefit us as human beings to have such a response, when faced with an emergency, or life threatening situation of some kind.  However unlike the example I gave earlier about a Zebra running across the Savanna away from a hungry Lion with a meal ticket, us humans fortunately happen to be at the top of the food chain.  Therefore, unlike some animals we do not face many emergencies within our lifetimes. However ask yourself this, how many times have you experienced symptoms of the “fight or flight” response? Monthly? Weekly? Daily?

Now don’t get me wrong, if someone is coming at me with a knife with the intent to harm me, I am all for my “fight or flight” response to kick in!  I want to get the hell away from that situation. But hopefully this shouldn’t happen very often in my life time, if at all (touch wood!). So the problem arises when this “fight or flight” response occurs during non-life threatening situations, such as a job interview, speaking in front of people? Or perhaps something as routine as when you are meeting friends or a work colleague?  Clearly it would be beneficial for us to not experience this response during these everyday tasks and events. This would allow us to be more focussed on the task at hand, improve our concentration and performance, and be free from worry, stress and associated anxieties. How good does that sound, hey?

If you feel that you experience symptoms of the “fight or flight” response during the everyday tasks and events that I have explained above, then we are here to assist you.  If you are reading this and are thinking “wow that is me”, please get in touch, we would love to help you.

At Make Space we take the time to understand every individual’s story and symptoms.  We explain the “why” and give you the “what” and the “how”. We provide you with the tools you need to understand, and manage these unwanted symptoms.  Allowing you to be the best possible version of you, giving you a clearer, more focussed mind, with space to think clearly and make better decisions.

Remember, Make some Space, and get in touch.