Flight or Fight?

Post date: Jun 2, 2011 12:44:21 PM

When we need quick action...

or super hero strength... panic can be our ally- but it can also incapacitate us-

just when we need rational thought. If a bear is closing in on you...you can't just stand around and think it over- you have to act. The body rushes blood flow to your extremities and saves the day by providing the adrenaline and chemical responses to either fight (or hopefully in this case ...flight). Obviously an advantage in the above senerio but what about when its non-life threatening? The higher the stress or emotional response, the lower the ability to think in a step-by-step response to the perceived threat.

Ok- so what should I do? There are three important steps to suppress panic: 1) control breathing 2) plan ahead 3)take action.

Practicing controlled, steady breathing calms you down. The more you practice this, the easier it is to use in a panic situation. It becomes automatic. It also has the added benefit of providing oxygen to think clearly so that you won't freeze up.

Plan ahead -what would be the first step if "this" senario took place? The steps should be simple. Assess the situation. Keep your breath steady.

Your next response needs to be an action of some kind ie.: your body to move- if possible, respond calmly to the situation. Planning ahead supresses the panic response.

Take action as soon as possible. The more you practice creating organized step-by-step plans the more conditioned your panic response becomes.

So life happens- someone cuts you off in traffic...(that never happens...right...lol)

the same conditioning will help you to deal with everyday stresses and respond to them rationally. Meanwhile while I have your attention - getting massages is a great way to decrease your stress levels. It acts as a reset to your stress response. That way if you do encounter stress...your body won't already be tense. You'll be able to think more clearly and avoid panic and anxiety (which raises stress chemicals and starts the process all over again). Give it some thought..invest in your health...

you won't regret it!!

-Have a blessed and stress free day -

Lisa Trimble, LMT, NCTMB owner In Touch Massage