Facing Fear - Part 2

Symptoms of Fight or Flight

  If a person is in danger the body assumes it will have to use the arms and legs to fight the danger or run away. In response, the fight or flight response causes blood flow to the arms and leg muscles to increase, to ensure that these muscles will get extra oxygen and nutrients. Thus it gives extraordinary strength to these limbs. 

          Have you ever heard of when someone

          is in a car accident and they had the

          ability to actually rip the car door

          off of the hinges or lift the entire car

          to rescue their loved ones.  This is an

          example of fight or flight.

This, however, causes some other symptoms:

*  blood is diverted away from the inner organs. As a result, the entire digestive process is slowed down. This can cause stomach upset, dry mouth and diarrhea.

*  The heart starts beating much faster to increase circulation. Some people experience this as a pounding fast heartbeat, others experience it as skipped beats. Breathing speeds up to allow the body to take in enough oxygen to keep up with the increased circulation of blood.

*  The body heats up because it is working harder to circulate blood. The body sweats so it can cool itself down. 

*  It is difficult to concentrate or focus because the body is ready to act on instinct. All extraneous information is being filtered out and “tunnel vision” may be experienced.

*  A panic attack giving the feeling of dying or going crazy may be experienced. It is just a mechanism to let the person know that something is wrong. However it cannot make a person die or go crazy. 

*  An overwhelming urge to run away will occur because the brain gets a message that something terrible is about to happen. This is also a symptom of a panic attack that would motivate the person to take action if they were in danger.

We all have experienced fear in one form or another.  The avoidance of fear just leads to more avoidance.  As we change our thoughts to be more courageous, we begin to have the ability to conquer our fears. 

Many people’s lives are turned upside down because of fears that they have allowed to have dominion over them.  They have physical maladies in addition to the mental issues.  They don’t know how to manage the stressors in their every day lives.  Well if this sounds like you... stay with me, I can help.

Join me Friday as we evolve from a fear-based, avoidance approach to a proactive, self-confident move forward.