“A good decision is based on knowledge and not on numbers” Plato
The old adage Fight or Flight is wrong, if people took it at face value, everyone would start a fight at the first sight of fear, anxiety, and danger. And running away from all conflict is not a good strategy either. Lest look at the missing steps in the sequence. The survival instincts that have brought us this far is Freeze, Flight, and Fight. Lest look at each one of them.
Freeze.
Hearing a loud noise can stop us in our tracks. At this point, the body gets ready for Flight or Fight. Adrenaline and Cortisol are released, Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure and increases your energy supply. Cortisol increases the sugar in the bloodstream, and it also suppresses the digestive system and growth process.
Flight.
If you know that your life is in danger, you start running in the opposite direction of the danger that’s approaching you. After the initial Freeze your body goes into survival mode and if you need to run, your body has allocated the energy it needs on your muscles to help you escape the danger.
Fight.
This is the last resort that we should be taking. And I understand that sometimes is the only option, at this point your body is ready to heal itself if it where to get injured, the increase in sugar in your bloodstream, it increases the ability of substances that help repair tissues.
There is nothing wrong with the feeling of “deer in headlights” that’s the first step, from there after assessing the danger the situation is presenting we decide what we are going to do. If we are at a public venue we look at our surroundings for cues. In a group setting, if the leader stops, everyone stops, if you are the leader the group is looking up too you to make the next move, just know that whatever the decision as social animals the group will follow.
Thank you,
Rogelio H. Charles