Sympathetic nervous system
The "fight or flight response" is our body's automatic response that prepares the body to "fight or flight" from perceived attack, harm or threat to ourselves. This response is something we are born with and has been in our systems for as long as humans have been alive. This "fight or flight" response happens when the internal or external stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal-cortical system. The effects of the two systems are the "fight or flight" response, when the two systems are engaged, the effect is that the body speeds up, and becomes generally very attentive.
When the "fight or flight" response has been triggered adrenaline, noradrenaline and cortisol is released into our bloodstream and our body begins to change. Our heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure increase, our pupils dilate and vision sharpens, blood glucose levels increase, muscles tense up, nonessential systems shut down to let for more energy be used by our muscles and limbs, which require extra energy and fuel for running and fighting. When this "fight or flight" event happens we prepare physically and psychologically. …show more content…
So why do we have this Jekyll and Hyde type system in our body?
This "fight or flight" response is genetically infused on our bodies because as cavemen and cavewomen we needed to be alert of the saber tooth tigers that once stalked the woods and fields around us. These giant tigers were threats to our physical survival, so with time our bodies developed the "fight or flight" response so we can survive the attacks from predators. Even though today there is not a saber tooth tiger, there are still some threats to us and we need that "fight or flight" response. The surge of adrenaline enables first responders to do their job well, soldiers to go into battle, and gives us courage when we need to protect and defend the lives of those we
love.
But the "fight or flight" response isn’t always good in today’s world. As our world changed and the physical threats were reduced our bodies didn’t, that part of our system has not evolved so we have to be aware of psychological threats and not so much physical. The "fight or flight" response is affected when we reach a state of stress, stress from not turning homework in to maybe getting to school late or breaking curfew. Since these can be major stresses to us today, our "fight or flight" response can kick in causing us to be hostile and over-reactive. This can cause us to be counter-productive and can hurt us more than help us. Excess stress over time can cause a lot of health issues like headaches, high blood pressure, chronic fatigue, depression and other life threatening health issues.
Once "fight or flight" response is over and the threat is gone, our body relaxes and we return to a state of calm, our muscles return to normal and our bodies return to a normal state and we need rest.