What happens in the course of a fight or flight

Acute stress response can trigger your system’s autonomous nervous system (ANS) to activate. This is the component which manages fast, unconsciously-triggered responses including reflexes.

The ANS will send signals that instruct the body to be prepared for danger in various ways. If someone experiences a response to the flight or fight, the body may be able to develop the following:

Rapid heart rate and breathing: This allows the body to deliver increased oxygenated blood flow to muscles and the brain in case someone must perform physical actions to avoid danger. It also leads to an elevation in the blood pressure.

Skin that is pale or flushed: As the body moves blood to certain regions, people may notice a drier face than normal or may shift between flushed and pale.

Muscles that are tense: While muscles are getting ready for their move, they may be tense and cause trembling or shaking. The tension of muscles can cause an uncomfortable sensation in the throat. This can result in the voice changing into a more high pitched..

Dilation of pupils: Eyes dilate in order to let more light enter the eyes, allowing one to see more clearly and take in the surroundings.

Dry mouthConstriction in the blood vessels in the mouth indicate that salivary glands stop producing saliva, which results in dry mouth. dry, dry mouth.

A person who is fighting or in flight might feel very alert, anxious, aggressive, or as if they are required to leave the area or room. A pronounced fighting or flight reaction could turn into a stress attack. It may also cause asthma attacks in those suffering from asthma.

What is the process that happens when you “freeze’?

The freeze response is a different process of the brain, unlike fighting or fleeing. A study from 2015Trusted Source defines the process in terms of “attentive immobility.” While the person who is “frozen” is extremely alert, however, they are not able to move or act against threat. Freezing can cause:

Why do people freeze or “flop”?

While it may appear to be an unorthodox way of responding in the face of danger, this has the same purpose as fight or flight is. The effects of freezing can be: