What you need to know about “fight” or “flight” response

Fight or flight in animals in response to threat

The fight or flight response is an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. It’s an evolutionarily ancient phenomenon that might be better understood in animals.

When faced with a threat most animals can defend themselves by fighting or fleeing. A stotting gazelle coming across sabre tooth tiger will launch instantly into a physical state designed to help it adapt to the threat i.e. fight or flight. Initially, however, the gazelle might freeze, and not because it’s too frightened to move. Freezing lets the gazelle seek evidence of potential danger. The sabre tooth tiger might have identified the slower-moving sloth as it’s target. And said gazelle can happily stott away, stress free, having no need to fight or flee.

Fight or flight in humans in response to perceived threat

We humans also have the same flight or fight instincts tho’ fortunately, we’re rarely, if ever, in the same situation as the stotting elk. Threat/stress/fear for us is generally a response to challenging or new life events such as a job loss, exams, deadlines, finances, poor health, or divorce.

Verywell / Joshua Seong

We experience stress because it is an evolutionary tool that keeps us alert, out of danger and surviving. It helps our bodies gear up for action—like avoiding an oncoming truck. We still have the same “fight or flight” respsonse as the stotting gazelle but in a different way. Like when I had to give presentations at university I’d be so nervous that my mouth dried up, my heart pounded, and my hands shook. I had to fight through it as the only other option was unimagineable — turning on my heels and fleeing.

No matter how many times I practised my presentation skills calmy at home in front of the mirror, presenting at uni still evoked anxiety, bordering on panic.

Some years later, as a senior nurse practitioner, I was required to do presentations for junior staff and I could cope with that. However, having to present to more senior staff, including our Chief Executive brought back my anxiety tenfold. I enrolled on a three day presentation skills course after which we were to deliver a five minute presentation to everyone on the course. Heart hammering, mouth like cotton wool, and shaking inside, I delivered the presentation and at the end asked if there were any questions. Hands shot up and the first person I looked at said “I have a question — why are you on this course? You’re a natural.” Others nodded and agreed that I looked so relaxed and confident, and came across well. Who’d have thought!

Stress presents itself in many forms

Stress is a common and normal physical response to challenging or new situations and can look and feel different for different people. Short-lived feelings of stress are a regular part of daily life i.e. your boss is more demanding today, or maybe you’re going to miss a deadline. Of course you’re stressed. This is what’s know as acute stress. It’s short term, it won’t last longer than your workday, and it may actually benefit you in some ways.

Situations that may cause acute stress

• running late for work, college, picking up the kids
• an impending deadline
• argument with loved one
• you’ve needlessly overspent this week
• your upcoming exam
• having lost phone, keys, purse
• sitting in a traffic jam
• presentations

However, it may be an every day occurence and on top of that you’re having a tough time at home, maybe you’re always short of money, and certain relationships are constantly fraught. When these feelings become long-lasting, or chronic, they can severely impact your health. This type of stress can become dangerous if you don’t try to overcome it.

Let’s take a break, then in my next post I’ll explain how you can overcome acute stress before we move on to chronic stress.

In the meantime, do you experience acute stressors at work or at home? Are you able to mange these effectively? Do you have any tips you’d like to share?