The stress response

When a person perceives a threat- As an example, let’s say that a fire breaks out in your residence. Your perception of this brings about certain physiological changes designed to help you deal with the reality of what you see. You get a LOT of energy, and this is to help you either put out the fire or leave before the fire puts you out. This is where the phrase "fight or flight" response originates. It’s a good thing, helps us deal with emergencies and is part of our evolution.

Heart rate and blood pressure go up, muscles tense, blood is moved away from the extremities (hands and feet) to where it is needed around the vital organs. Pupils dilate. All of this is NORMAL under stressful circumstances. It’s not an "all or none" response, but adapts to the situation at hand.
Going back to the "fire in the house" example, the situation is over rather quickly. Either the fire is extinguished or it burns the place down. Either way, your body can now relax. The stressor is gone. I’m not saying one can or will relax after such an event, but only that the stress response is no longer necessary and because certain neurotransmitters are depleted. One feels exhausted! If another stressor came along shortly thereafter, one would have less ability to deal with it because of this biochemical depletion.

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