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Fight, Flight, Freeze...

​​The fight-or-flight response is an automatic response to danger that allows people to react quickly without needing to think. It's driven by the sympathetic nervous system, which provides the body with a burst of energy. 

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The body's response to danger can also include freezing or fawning. The body's response to threats can vary depending on past experiences. â€‹Spending too much time in a state of high alert/ or high-excessive Beta brain wave states can be exhausting and physically damaging.

 

Some physical consequences include: 

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  • Chronic pain, fatigue, exhaustion, burnout, chronic stress

  • Depression,  anxiety, suicidal crises, impulsivity, compulsion

  • Gastrointestinal issues, inflammation, organ deterioration

  • Headaches and migraines, inability to think clearly

  • High blood pressure and cholesterol levels

  • Metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and obesity

  • Poor immune function, emotional dysregulation

  • Neurological changes, memory loss & lack of concentration

  • Reproductive and sexual dysfunction

  • Worsened breathing problems, such as those related to asthma

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The Brain & Mental Health

When the brain's fight-or-flight response is triggered, several parts of the brain are involved, including: 

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  • Amygdala

    This part of the brain processes emotions and sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus when it detects a threat. 

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  • Hypothalamus

    This part of the brain acts as a command centre, communicating with the rest of the body through the nervous system. It produces extra cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body to fight or flee. 

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  • Hippocampus

    This part of the brain stores memories, and the amygdala tells it to remember what caused the stress. 

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  • Neocortex

    This part of the brain shuts down as the likelihood of the threat increases. 

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  • Frontal lobes

    These parts of the brain are responsible for conscious thought, such as rational thinking, planning, and decision making. In relatively safe situations, the frontal lobes can override the amygdala. 

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Fight, Flight, Freeze...

FIGHT RESPONSE

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This response is our body's way of coping with stress or danger.  The following list of fight, flight, freeze responses below may indicate signs that someone is no longer feeling safe and/ or might be at risk.

 

This is not a complete list but may help to identify what you should be watching for:

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Fight Responses

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  • Enraged crying or yelling in anger

  • Hands in fists, desire to punch, rip

  • Flexed/tight jaw, grinding teeth, snarl

  • Fight in eyes, glaring, fight in voice

  • Desire to stomp, kick, smash with legs, 

  • Feelings of anger/rage

  • Homicidal/suicidal feelings

  • Knotted stomach/nausea, burning stomach

  • Feeling like you cant control your actions

FLIGHT RESPONSE

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The flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs when someone perceives a threat or danger to their survival.

 

It's also known as the fight-or-flight response, hyper-arousal, or the acute stress response.

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Flight Responses:

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  • Restless legs, feet /numbness in legs

  • Anxiety/shallow breathing

  • Big/darting eyes

  • Leg/foot movements

  • Reported or observed fidgety-ness, restlessness, feeling trapped, tense, 

  • Sense of running in life- one activity-next

  • Excessive exercise

  • Over ridden by feelings of danger or compulsion

FREEZE RESPONSE

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The freeze response serves as a stalling tactic.

 

You brain presses the “pause” button but remains hypervigilant, waiting and watching carefully until it can determine whether fleeing or fighting offers a better route to safety.

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Freeze Responses:

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  • Feeling stuck in some part of body

  • Feeling cold/frozen, numb, pale skin

  • Sense of stiffness, heaviness

  • Holding breath/restricted breathing

  • Sense of dread, heart pounding

  • Decreased heart rate (can sometimes increase)

  • Orientation to threat

  • Difficulty concentrating

  • Feeling emotionally flooded

  • Appearing withdrawn or shut down

  • A sense of dread or foreboding​

Contact Me...

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Davinder Ojalla

Founder of Medicine YogaTherapy, Counsellor/ CBT Therapist, Yoga, Mindfulness, Meditation Teacher, Energy Healer & Somatic Embodiment Coach.
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