FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE RESPONSE
Noticeable effects ∗ Breathing fast and shallow ∗ Chest pains ∗ Heart pumps faster
∗ Hyperventilation ∗ Mouth goes dry ∗ Neck and shoulder muscles tense ∗ Pupils dilate
Hidden effects ∗ Adrenaline released ∗ Blood pressure rises ∗ Brain gets body ready for action ∗ Cortisol released (depresses immune system) ∗ Digestion slows or ceases ∗ Liver releases glucose—releases energy for muscles
Fight, flight, and freeze are responses that a person is expected to have when faced with a bear threatening their life. A person’s body is wired to become activated to save them from that bear. Once the bear (or threat) is gone, human bodies are meant to return to a place of calm. When a person experiences ongoing abuses or neglect, this response keeps activating and does not allow the body to come back to a place of calm. It causes significant changes in the way a person’s brain and body develops. Researchers are starting to connect many health issues to early toxic stress and abuse based on the changes that happen in a person’s system when they are activated. Research now shows that a person with four or more adverse childhood experiences dies approximately 20 years younger than a person with no adverse childhood experiences. It is important to remember that the brain is malleable and that a person’s resilience factors can play a role in mitigating the outcomes associated with higher adverse childhood experiences scores, specifically the many long-term health implications that can be linked to shorter life expectancy. Facilitator note: Facilitate a large group discussion, ask “What are some things you’ve experienced in times of heightened stress?”
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