Consider these three different scenarios.

A sales rep is having a difficult time during the recession. His recent records show poor sales. He is due to meet an important, big new client and this could be an opportunity that could save his career. Success will decide whether he still has a job or not.

 

A man is desperately and madly in love with this attractive and popular woman. To him there is no future without her but there are other men trying to attract her attention. The table is set for two, the ring is in his hand and the red roses lie near by. She is due any minute and he will propose to her and he does not know whether she will say yes or no.

 

Late at night a woman is walking home. The streets are poorly lit. The sound of footsteps ahead of her make her uneasy. A group of people wearing hoodies is coming towards her. Behind her she now hear more footsteps. She turns around to see a group of youths walking towards her.

 

Although there is potential danger in only one scenario, a person becomes very focussed and alert. The body goes into the fight and fright reaction.

 

The fight or fright reaction protect us from life threatening dangers. The hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisone are released during the reaction.These hormones cause a remarkable change in the body.

 

The heart rate speeds up, the breathing become faster and deeper, the mouth becomes dry, the pupils dilate, skin becomes cold and clammy and hairs on the back of the neck stand up.

 

You may have an urge to urinate, open your bowels or vomit. This is the brain trying to make you lighter and move faster during ‘flight’.

 

The fight or fright reaction prepares the body for action. You become alert and aware. All your senses are sharpened. Your sense of smell, sight and hearing are all sharpened. Your body is now functioning at it optimum.

 

Your heart, beating faster pumps more blood to the brain and the muscles. With faster and deeper breathing, more oxygen is transported by the blood to the muscles and brain. In addition blood is temporarily diverted from other vital organs such as the gut, the kidneys and the immune system to enable more blood to the muscles.

 

Although the fight and fright reaction is primeval and developed when early humans had to confront huge and dangerous reptiles and mammals, it is still present today. Unfortunately the brain cannot differentiate between real and percieved dangers or threats. The reaction is the same.

The fight or fright reaction is triggered in all three scenarios.

 

Panic attacks are in reality fright or fright reactions and, during an attack, to the individual the threat or danger is very real. Rationality suddenly disappear and there is no where to run to or no one to fight.

 

In stress, even though there is no threat to our lives, the fight or fright reaction is triggered and can be harmful to the body. If persistent, it can cause diseases.

 

Understanding how the fight or fright reaction is triggered in stress will help you make some sense about the symptoms of stress you experience with stress.