Fight or Flight:
Understanding 3 Different Levels
Fight or flight is a normal response to a threatening
situation. Although this response was most needed as a survival
mechanism centuries ago, we rarely need this response today.
However, this response misfires for different reasons, including
what we consider a threat in our own minds. With anxiety it is
not uncommon for this response to be triggered by our own
imaginations. It's important to realize that fear is also known
as:
False -Evidence
-Appearing -Real.
By recognizing the response, we are more able to control it
and put it in proper perspective.
There are 3 different levels to the fight or flight response
By learning what they are you will be better equipped to
recognize them as soon as possible so that you can take action
in order to avoid the later stages.
1. Warning Level - This level is what activates you and prepares
you for a threatening situation. It also activates the sympathetic
nervous system. Adrenaline is produced in order to give you energy to
stay and fight or to turn and run from your situation. The fats, sugars
and cholesterol levels rise in our bodies. The heart rates accelerates
and blood pressure rises. Breathing patterns change by becoming rapid
and more shallow which can bring on many uncomfortable body symptoms
such as dizziness and/or breathlessness. Perspiration increases causing
feelings of hot/cold flashes and our other senses become more sensitive.
2. Adjustment Level - In this level the body attempts
to adjust to the situation. This is the perfect time to use the
stress management tips.
However, if stress is allowed to continue, energy is drained
and the body becomes begins to lose the ability to bounce back
to normal and exhaustion symptoms begin to occur. The body loses
important vitamins, minerals and amino acids and brain chemicals
become off balanced. Relaxation methods are very important as
they help give the body and mind a temporary break. By taking
this break you will help minimize the chances of entering the
exhaustion level. When you don't listen to your body's built in
warning system (warning level) by taking measures to de-stress,
you set yourself up for the beginning phases of various anxiety
and depressive disorders. These disorders develop just as bad
habits develop, most of the time, when we are not even paying
attention.
3. Exhaustion Level - This level of fight or flight has
many different symptoms such as physical illness, poor memory , poor
concentration, anger issues, sleeping issues, physical-mental
fatigue, changes in appetite, feelings of distrust, anxiety ,
depression and lowered self-esteem, etc. Another name for the
exhaustion level is burnout. Although it's not too late to
use the
stress management tips, it will take longer and more patience to
get back to a normal, balanced level with your mind and body. Some
people may even need the aid of a therapist and medications to bring
them back to a normal, healthy state. In this level, you must know
that it is never too late to begin taking good care of yourself. It
is, however, more important for you to be more compassionate with
yourself and your physical and emotional needs.
When looking at these levels, you can see that stress can lead to serious
problems if allowed to continue for long lengths of time. Although we cannot
eliminate stress entirely. We can learn to manage it through stress
management and even learn to use stress to our benefit.
To learn more about fight or flight, it's necessary to learn the
symptoms of
panic attacks and a self-help treatment that works.
Return from Fight or Flight to Anxiety Cures
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