The Fight or Flight Response to Stress

Stress is what happens to the body when any "pleasant" or "unpleasant" demand is placed upon it.

The human body has an inborn, "pre-wired" response for dealing with dangerous situations - it is called the "fight or flight" response. Both fighting and fleeing require the same activities on the part of the body's organs.  The purpose of this response is to prepare the individual for vigorous muscular activity in response to a perceived threat.  By itself, this response is normal, healthy, and adaptive.  It is when the "fight/flight" response occurs too frequently or is greatly prolonged that we begin to experience the negative effects of stress.

The human nervous system has a component that works automatically (the autonomic nervous system).  The autonomic nervous system has two divisions:  the 'sympathetic' and 'parasympathetic' divisions.  When the sympathetic division is active we experience the fight/flight response.  Interestingly, when the parasympathetic division is active we experience something quite opposite from "fight/flight" --- parasympathetic activity results in a response of rest & relaxation.  These two systems work to help us maintain our physical balance.

Too much "fight/flight" activity without corresponding rest and relaxation is what distress is all about.

POTENTIAL AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM RESPONSES

MY PERSONAL STRESS SYMPTOMS INVENTORY

When I feel under a lot of stress and pressure, which of the following responses do I notice?