The fight response is a natural instinctual reaction to a perceived threat. When we encounter a stressful situation, our bodies release adrenaline and cortisol, which trigger the flight response.
We become more focused on finding a way to escape the threat. The flight response can be useful in certain situations, but chronic activation can lead to health problems such as:
- Gut: IBS, Acid reflux
- Hormonal: PMS, PCOS, Endometriosis
- Metabolic: Insulin resistance, Diabetes
- Cardiovascular: High blood pressure, arrhythmias
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Anxiety or Depresson
- Weight gain
For example, people who experience chronic anxiety may have an overactive flight response, which can lead to avoidance behaviors and isolation.
Types of Avoidance Behaviors
- Physical Avoidance: Avoiding certain places or people, leaving social situations early, or even quitting a job or ending a relationship.
- Emotional Avoidance: Avoiding or suppressing difficult emotions that arise from stress or anxiety, such as distracting oneself with social media, work, hobbies, or other activities to avoid facing one’s feelings.
- Cognitive Avoidance: Avoiding or denying thoughts or beliefs that contribute to stress or anxiety, such as ignoring or minimizing problems, or engaging in perfectionistic or obsessive behaviors to avoid confronting one’s fears or insecurities.
The flight response can also lead to using substances like food, drugs, or alcohol as a way to escape or numb feelings of stress or anxiety.
Example of a Flight Response
Imagine Rachel is a sales representative at a high-pressure company. She has a big sales target to meet, but she’s been struggling to close deals due to increased competition in the market. Her flight response is triggered, and she feels an overwhelming urge to escape the pressure. She turns to food as a form of comfort, and starts binging on unhealthy snacks and junk food. Her body releases adrenaline and cortisol, which give her a burst of energy and heightened awareness, but also increase her appetite and cravings for sugar and fat.
In this scenario, Rachel’s flight response is causing her to turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms that may ultimately harm his her and well-being. To address her flight response, Rachel could try finding healthier ways to cope with stress, such as exercise, meditation, or talking to a friend. She could also try finding ways to increase her confidence and motivation, such as setting smaller, achievable sales goals, or seeking feedback and support from her colleagues or supervisor. By addressing the underlying causes of her flight response, Rachel may find that she is able to better manage her stress and achieve her sales targets in a healthier way.
If you’re stuck in a FLIGHT stress response, learn how you can process your emotions, regulate your nervous system, and adapt to stress in my podcast course Already Enough. Click the link to learn more!
