In this case, your brain reacts to related triggers to prepare you for future traumatic situations. This is more likely if you have a history of: It involves a recurrent pattern of reactions related to the initial event. Overactive responses are more common in people who have experienced: TraumaĪfter a traumatic event, you may develop an exaggerated stress response.

This happens when nonthreatening situations trigger the reaction. Sometimes, the fight-flight-freeze response is overactive. Usually, your body will return to its natural state after 20 to 30 minutes. You might also shift between fight-or-flight and freezing, but this is very difficult to control. Your specific physiological reactions depend on how you usually respond to stress. Fight-or-flight temporarily reduces your perception of pain. As blood flow increases to your major muscles, your hands and feet might get cold. Your skin might produce more sweat or get cold. Blood thickens, which increases clotting factors. Your ears “perk up” and your hearing becomes sharper. Your pupils dilate and let in more light, which helps you see better. Your peripheral vision increases so you can notice your surroundings. In the freeze response, you might hold your breath or restrict breathing. Your breathing speeds up to deliver more oxygen to your blood. During freezing, your heart rate might increase or decrease. Your heart beats faster to bring oxygen to your major muscles. These hormones are released very quickly, which can affect your: In general, when your ANS is stimulated, your body releases adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormone.

How you react depends on which system dominates the response at the time. The sympathetic nervous system drives the fight-or-flight response, while the parasympathetic nervous system drives freezing. The ANS consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The amygdala responds by sending signals to the hypothalamus, which stimulates the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The reaction begins in your amygdala, the part of your brain responsible for perceived fear. During a fight-flight-freeze response, many physiological changes occur.

Modern combat 6 trigger first