The fight or flight response, characterized by surges in adrenaline, dilated pupils, and a rapid heart rate, is a stress response that occurs in both animals and humans during times of danger or stress. It can lead to extreme reactions, such as aggression or panic attacks, and can be a nuisance to deal with. Seeking help from a mental health professional or physician may be necessary if the response occurs frequently without stimuli.
A fight or flight reaction is a stress response characterized by surges in adrenaline, dilated pupils, and a rapid heart rate. The term was first used in the early 20th century by Walter Cannon, an American physiologist. Cannon used the term to describe animals that have undergone situations where they have had to flee or prepare to fight to defend themselves from danger. Such a response may also be called hyperarousal or acute stress response. According to Cannon’s descriptions, when an animal is frightened or in danger, the sympathetic nervous system responds, causing surges in adrenaline and changes in pupils and heart rate, and sometimes extra force shown in jerks of speed if an animal runs away or stays for attack. Some also refer to a third state “fright”, which occurs when an animal does not flee or fight, but panics and faints or stands still – the typical “deer in headlights” response or the collapse of a sheep if pursued from a dog.
The fight-or-flight reaction has also been found to occur in humans during times of stress or danger. In some cases, the sympathetic nervous system causes such an extreme adrenaline rush that people are able to do things they couldn’t do under normal circumstances, such as jacking up a car by an injured loved one. The fight or flight response can be extremely powerful, but it doesn’t always work to our advantage.
People may encounter this reaction not only in situations of perceived physical danger. They may also feel unsafe during a vocal discussion. This can cause them to continue arguing, and some people may even mount a physical attack if their sympathetic nervous system works overtime during any kind of verbal attack. Others need to flee, and if a person really wants to get out of a verbal argument, you shouldn’t try to stop him, as fleeing can be provoked into confrontation, if a person cannot escape the attack and feels cornered.
Additionally, some people, especially those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, or generalized anxiety disorder, may have a fight or flight reaction for no apparent or obvious reason. The sympathetic nervous system essentially fails, and suddenly being unable to find keys, or something else trivial, causes a rapidly beating heart, heavy breathing, or an outright panic attack. For people with PTSD, small reminders of past traumatic events, such as a smell, temperature, or being in a familiar place where the traumatic events occurred can elicit this response. For some, this can result in aggressive behavior towards others, and still others find themselves panicking or needing a quick change of environment.
Sometimes the flight response is not particularly evident in humans. Withdrawing from social interaction, even watching television or surfing the net, might be seen as a mild flight reaction when times get stressful. Studies on gender and the fight-or-flight response have observed that men tend to become more aggressive or more introverted than women in stressful situations, possibly because in our culture, women tend to be more likely to lean on resources. social networks (friends and family) to discuss their problems.
In general, most people will encounter fight-or-flight reactions in times of stress. While protecting people from danger may once have been an instinctive behavior, just as it protects many animals now, it’s sometimes a nuisance to deal with. Being in a state of full hyperarousal can lead to bowel problems, panic, argumentative mood, withdrawal, and difficulty sleeping and breathing. If this response seems to occur frequently without stimuli, such as real danger or a stressful situation, it may be wise to discuss ways to address this response with a mental health professional or your personal physician.
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