The Impact of Persistent Stress on the Body and How Therapy Can Help
Have you ever been in a situation where your body reacted to a threat (real or perceived) before you even consciously realized that there was a threat? That’s what’s known as the Flight-Fight-Freeze instinct. In fact, it’s a remarkable instinct for self-preservation and survival.
We need this instinct to respond appropriately to dangerous situations and times of stress. When the danger or stressors are gone, the body naturally turns off the Flight-Fight-Freeze instinct.
But what if the stressors, real or perceived, don’t go away? In today’s modern society, chronic stress can keep the body in continuous Flight-Fight-Freeze mode. And unfortunately, the physical and emotional consequences can be devastating.
In this blog, we’ll talk more about the role of adrenaline in the Flight-Fight-Freeze instinct and the impact of chronic stress on physical and emotional health.
Adrenaline, the Sympathetic Nervous System, and the Flight-Fight-Freeze Instinct
The Flight-Fight-Freeze response is our body’s way of giving itself extra resources to face—or run away from—an acute threat. The response is so rapid that it usually occurs before we even realize that we have perceived a threat.
When it perceives acute stress or danger, the brain activates the sympathetic nervous system, which in turn stimulates the production of two critical hormones: adrenaline and cortisol.
Adrenaline simulates an increase in your heart rate and blood pressure. You feel your heart racing as it pumps blood more quickly. You breathe more quickly as your lungs take in greater amounts oxygen. Your response times increase and your eyes dilate so you can see better.
Cortisol increases your body’s access to energy by flooding your body with glucose (sugar). It alters the body’s natural immune responses, and even prevents natural functions—like digestion—that are not helpful in a critical situation.
Together, these two hormones prepare your body to act under pressure. In ancient times, you might be able to outrun a predator, for example. In the modern world, you may swerve your car to avoid an obstacle or outperform your expectations on a test or presentation.
Excess Adrenaline and Chronic Stress
The body also has a self-limiting braking system.
Once the danger or stress has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system shuts down the excess flow of adrenaline and cortisol, enabling the body to return to a more natural state of relaxation and rest.
At least, this is what is supposed to happen. However, when stress is chronic, the parasympathetic nervous system cannot offer its normal braking function. The Flight-Fight-Freeze instinct stays on, as does the body’s instinct to create adrenaline and cortisol.
Unfortunately, increased levels of adrenaline and cortisol can, over the long term, disrupt the body’s natural processes and lead to significant health concerns.
Excess adrenaline can lead to physical problems such as:
Headaches
Digestive concerns and weight gain
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Interrupted sleep patterns
Excess adrenaline can also lead to significant mental health concerns, such as:
Memory impairment
Difficulty concentrating
Anxiety
Depression
Rest and Recover: The Parasympathetic Nervous System
The parasympathetic nervous system controls the body’s the Rest-and-Recover response. And it’s critical for lowering excessive levels of adrenaline and cortisol, returning the body to a state of rest, and preventing some of those long-term effects of excess adrenaline.
Stress is a constant part of today’s world. But it is possible to learn how to activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Therapy with a licensed counselor can help you identify the stressors triggering your body’s overactive Flight-Fight-Freeze response. Therapy combined with physical relaxation techniques designed to trigger the Rest-and-Recover response can also be highly effective.
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