The Stress Response
Chemicals like adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol are released into the bloodstream when the stress response is activated. Our breathing rate increases, blood is directed into our limbs, which require extra energy to run or fight. Our awareness intensifies and our impulses quicken. The perception of pain diminishes.
We become prepared—physically and psychologically—for fight or flight. We scan and search our environment, looking for the threat.
With the stress response activated we perceive everything in our environment as a possible threat to our survival.
By its very nature, the stress response bypasses the rational mind and moves us into ‘attack’ mode. This state of alert causes us to perceive almost everything in the immediate vicinity as a possible threat to our survival. We may overreact to the slightest comment as fear is exaggerated and our thinking is distorted. We narrow our focus to those things that can harm us.
Freeze, flight, fight
Freeze is the first step, we stop in our tracks, this allows us to hide from the threat
Then we go into flight, this is where we use the oxygenated blood in our arms and legs to run away from the danger
When that fails we are into fight, this is where we are fighting for our survival
Unfortunately we no longer have the sabre tooth tigers to hide, run or fight, but we still have the same response.
Perception may be below awareness
We are not always aware of the things that set in motion our stress reactions. Our minds can trigger a stress reaction without us consciously and cognitively interpreting the situation as distressing.
Developing self-awareness is one of the most important aspects of stress- management.
