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Fight-And-Flight Response Revisited

In this issue, we will look at the role of fight-and-flight response and how it contributes to the perpetuation of our symptoms.

As most of us know, the flight-and-fight response is a natural response in humans and animals. In times of danger the response is automatically activated and hormones, including adrenalin, are released into the blood stream. The hormones help the body prepare either to stay and fight the danger or to run away from it. This is the body's normal response to danger.

As the hormones move through our body it 'shuts down' the non-essential organs including the bowel, bladder and stomach. Our heart begins to beat faster and we begin to breathe more rapidly to help get oxygen and blood to the lungs, brain and muscle groups. This is all done so we can either stay and fight the situation or to get out of it quickly. Other physiological sensations of the fight and flight response include shaking, trembling, excessive perspiration. As a result of the bowel and bladder being 'shut down' some people feel as if they are going to have an attack of diarrhea or may feel an urgent need to urinate. Some people may feel as if they are going to be sick.

Fear, as we all know, is a huge part of our Anxiety Disorder. We may fear that we are having a heart attack, that we may die, go insane or lose control in some way. The fear may center around social concerns, obsessions or compulsions. It may be part of an ongoing memory of some traumatic experience or it could be constant worry about a particular personal situation.

Whatever our fear is, the more we think about it, and the more we worry about it, the more we are automatically turning on the fight-and-flight response. And the more we turn on the fight and flight response, the more our symptoms increase. As a result, the more our fear is increased, the fight-and-flight increases. Symptoms then increase ... and around-and-around it goes. It is no wonder so many of us feel out of control.

But we can take back the control. Firstly, by having a full medical checkup, just to make sure there is nothing physically wrong. Once we are told there is nothing wrong physically, then we have to believe and accept it. If we don't, then all we are going to do is keep on turning on the fight-and-flight response.

Once we know there is nothing wrong with us physically, we have to address all of our major fears. We need to see through the fears irrespective of what they are. Whatever Anxiety Disorder we may have, it is the way we think about our fears that turns on the fight-and-flight response.

This is why Cognitive Behavior Therapy is so important for all the Anxiety Disorders. CBT can help you get to the fears and break them down so that you can begin to live a normal life again. Recovery means we confront the fears, confront their 'bluff' and take back our own POWER!!!!

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