Fight-or-Flight-or-Freeze!
I.) ASSESSMENT
II.) HISTORY
III.) BIOLOGY
IV.) PHYSIOLOGY
V.) SIGNAL TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE
I.) ASSESSMENT: The Fight-or-Flight-or-Freeze Response
As the consumption of a drink (or two) is meant to be sporadic and sparing, is meant to help us unwind and relax, so too the Fight-or-Flight response is meant only to help us survive sporadic emergencies. The drink is not meant to be an all-day, every-day, affair. The Fight-or-Flight response is not meant to be "on" (as in an on/off switch) every second, every minute, every hour, every day, year after year. It is not meant to be permanently "on." We believe that the female (or male victim) victim's Fight-or-Flight response in "on" continually, permanently, throughout the abusive/battering "relationship" with, perhaps, somewhat of a reprieve when the batterer/abuser is asleep. A modicum of relief may also be obtained when the batterer is at work, that is, if he works. Without that modicum of relief, the victim would surely crash!
{You say, "Why not escape THEN!?" For amplification of the complex imbroglio of abuse, please see the entry in this blogcast, entitled, "An Experiment: Why Abused Women Don't Leave!?"}
The human being is not meant to live under the constant threat of danger as are multitudinous battered victims across the globe. The functioning of a healthy nervous system can be easily derailed by the continual, heightened, state of ALERT that the Fight-or-Flight response elicits! We are not meant to live under a state of constant tension! Ceaseless pressure! Incessant knots in the stomach! Weight loss! Maiming! Deformity! Broken eardrums! Tinnitus! Broken noses! Cracked and broken limbs! Damaged Nervous Systems! Unending worry about when the next blow will hit! Mental and emotional and spiritual damage! Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other disorders contracted when, and if, the victim escapes the abusive situation! Alive!? The young and strong may be able to withstand (take it) the abusive treatment for awhile; but, the damage to the Nervous System will surely manifest itself in coming years.
{To all victims of abuse, "Focus for a moment! Is an inadequate, cowardly, abuser worth all of the above!? Your health!? Your life!? That's a pretty big sacrifice, victims! You would give your life for a mentally-ill, inadequate, coward!?"}
II.) HISTORY: Who discovered it?
The Fight-or-Flight response was first introduced in 1915 by Walter Bradford Cannon, an American Physiologist. He was also Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physiology at Harvard Medical School.
Walter Cannon's theory states that animals (Humans are animals.) react to threats with a general discharge of the Sympathetic Nervous System, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing. It is also known as the Fight-or-Flight-or-Freeze response.
III.) BIOLOGY: Where does it come from?
Nervous System is the system of nerves and nerve cells in an animal or human, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia. It is the center of mental activity and the major communicating system of the body.
Central Nervous System is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System consists of all of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. It relays information FROM the brain and spinal cord TO the rest of the body.
Autonomic Nervous System is part of the Peripheral Nervous System.
Autonomic Nervous System has 2 subdivisions: (1) Sympathetic Nervous System alerts the body of danger (2) Unsympathetic Nervous System (also called Parasympathetic Nervous System) relaxes the body.
Hypothalamus is the region of the brain that controls the Autonomic Nervous System and controls the secretion of the master gland known as the Pituitary Gland.
IV.) PHYSIOLOGY: What happens during that split second when it kicks in?
IN EMERGENCIES...
A cluster of magical neurons (nerve cells) in the Hypothalamus signals the Pituitary Gland - attached and ready at the base of the brain - to release elaborate hormones into the bloodstream and sets off a cacophony of miracles needed to survive.
The hormone, Adrenaline, transforms our bodies from a state of tranquility to the alertness of the Fight-or-Flight response; it alerts our bodies, "Produce more energy!"
INSTANTLY...
V.) This is A SIGNAL TO ALL VICTIMS OF ABUSE: "GET OUT NOW! HE (OR SHE) IS NOT WORTH YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR LIFE! You'll see the REAL heinousness and absurdity of the situation once you're away from it for awhile!"
It's scary! We know what you're thinking, "HOW!?"
"ESCAPE SAFELY! PLEASE! GO TO A 'BATTERED WOMEN SHELTER!'"
and
Expect Miracles!
And the rest of you ~ DON'T BE COWARDS! DO THE RIGHT THING! CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE IS COMMITTING THE CRIME OF ASSAULT ON ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. CALL THE COPS!!!
{ This entry was excerpted from Keep the Killers Home and The Magical World of.... ~ Copyright: Maria Percic, Author All rights reserved }
II.) HISTORY
III.) BIOLOGY
IV.) PHYSIOLOGY
V.) SIGNAL TO VICTIMS OF ABUSE
I.) ASSESSMENT: The Fight-or-Flight-or-Freeze Response
As the consumption of a drink (or two) is meant to be sporadic and sparing, is meant to help us unwind and relax, so too the Fight-or-Flight response is meant only to help us survive sporadic emergencies. The drink is not meant to be an all-day, every-day, affair. The Fight-or-Flight response is not meant to be "on" (as in an on/off switch) every second, every minute, every hour, every day, year after year. It is not meant to be permanently "on." We believe that the female (or male victim) victim's Fight-or-Flight response in "on" continually, permanently, throughout the abusive/battering "relationship" with, perhaps, somewhat of a reprieve when the batterer/abuser is asleep. A modicum of relief may also be obtained when the batterer is at work, that is, if he works. Without that modicum of relief, the victim would surely crash!
{You say, "Why not escape THEN!?" For amplification of the complex imbroglio of abuse, please see the entry in this blogcast, entitled, "An Experiment: Why Abused Women Don't Leave!?"}
The human being is not meant to live under the constant threat of danger as are multitudinous battered victims across the globe. The functioning of a healthy nervous system can be easily derailed by the continual, heightened, state of ALERT that the Fight-or-Flight response elicits! We are not meant to live under a state of constant tension! Ceaseless pressure! Incessant knots in the stomach! Weight loss! Maiming! Deformity! Broken eardrums! Tinnitus! Broken noses! Cracked and broken limbs! Damaged Nervous Systems! Unending worry about when the next blow will hit! Mental and emotional and spiritual damage! Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other disorders contracted when, and if, the victim escapes the abusive situation! Alive!? The young and strong may be able to withstand (take it) the abusive treatment for awhile; but, the damage to the Nervous System will surely manifest itself in coming years.
{To all victims of abuse, "Focus for a moment! Is an inadequate, cowardly, abuser worth all of the above!? Your health!? Your life!? That's a pretty big sacrifice, victims! You would give your life for a mentally-ill, inadequate, coward!?"}
II.) HISTORY: Who discovered it?
The Fight-or-Flight response was first introduced in 1915 by Walter Bradford Cannon, an American Physiologist. He was also Professor and Chairman of the Department of Physiology at Harvard Medical School.
Walter Cannon's theory states that animals (Humans are animals.) react to threats with a general discharge of the Sympathetic Nervous System, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing. It is also known as the Fight-or-Flight-or-Freeze response.
III.) BIOLOGY: Where does it come from?
Nervous System is the system of nerves and nerve cells in an animal or human, including the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and ganglia. It is the center of mental activity and the major communicating system of the body.
Central Nervous System is composed of the brain and spinal cord.
Peripheral Nervous System consists of all of the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. It relays information FROM the brain and spinal cord TO the rest of the body.
Autonomic Nervous System is part of the Peripheral Nervous System.
Autonomic Nervous System has 2 subdivisions: (1) Sympathetic Nervous System alerts the body of danger (2) Unsympathetic Nervous System (also called Parasympathetic Nervous System) relaxes the body.
Hypothalamus is the region of the brain that controls the Autonomic Nervous System and controls the secretion of the master gland known as the Pituitary Gland.
IV.) PHYSIOLOGY: What happens during that split second when it kicks in?
IN EMERGENCIES...
A cluster of magical neurons (nerve cells) in the Hypothalamus signals the Pituitary Gland - attached and ready at the base of the brain - to release elaborate hormones into the bloodstream and sets off a cacophony of miracles needed to survive.
The hormone, Adrenaline, transforms our bodies from a state of tranquility to the alertness of the Fight-or-Flight response; it alerts our bodies, "Produce more energy!"
INSTANTLY...
- The tiny muscles IN the blood vessels of the potential victim's heart contract and dilate, faster, faster, open, close, faster, faster - drive more blood.
- Heart rate quickens.
- Heart pounds.
- Blood pressure increases.
- Blood vessels UNDER the surface of the skin contract and dilate, open, close, faster, faster... turning the flow of blood AWAY FROM the skin so there will be less bleeding if the victim is cut, or stabbed; as a result, the complexion turns ghostly white. There is paling or flushing or alternating between the two.
- Blood flows AWAY FROM the stomach, intestines, and pancreas, TO the muscles of the (a.) skeleton, TO the muscles in the (b.) arms and (c.) legs, and TO the muscles of the (d.) brain.
- Because of the rush of blood TO the brain, butterflies flutter wildly within the body.
- Digestion screeches to a halt.
- Fat cells supply the blood with more fatty acids.
- More sugar is released FROM storage in the liver.
- Blood sugar level rises.
- Sugar gives a quick blast of energy TO the muscles.
- Pancreas produces less insulin so the brain could finagle its share of the sugar entering the bloodstream. The brain doesn't need insulin to utilize blood sugar. Other organs do. Less insulin means more sugar for the brain.
- Hair stands on end.
- Goosebumps break out all over the body.
- Sympathetic nerves stop bladder contraction.
- Colon evacuates.
- There is inhibition of erection.
- Tear glands become more active causing tears to gush from the eyes.
- Salivary glands become less active causing the moist mouth to dry up.
- Sympathetic nerves provide plenty of oxygen to produce more energy.
- Tiny muscles along the airways of the lungs relax.
- Bronchi dilate.
- The potential victim inhales and exhales quickly, allowing more air to move in and out of the body.
- More air is able to flow into the lungs.
- More oxygen is able to enter the bloodstream.
- Pupils dilate to allow for more light to enter.
- Vision sharpens. There is a loss of peripheral vision (The potential victim only has tunnel vision).
- There is a loss of hearing.
- Sweat glands excrete profusely.
V.) This is A SIGNAL TO ALL VICTIMS OF ABUSE: "GET OUT NOW! HE (OR SHE) IS NOT WORTH YOUR HEALTH AND YOUR LIFE! You'll see the REAL heinousness and absurdity of the situation once you're away from it for awhile!"
It's scary! We know what you're thinking, "HOW!?"
"ESCAPE SAFELY! PLEASE! GO TO A 'BATTERED WOMEN SHELTER!'"
and
Expect Miracles!
And the rest of you ~ DON'T BE COWARDS! DO THE RIGHT THING! CALL THE POLICE WHEN YOU SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE IS COMMITTING THE CRIME OF ASSAULT ON ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. CALL THE COPS!!!
{ This entry was excerpted from Keep the Killers Home and The Magical World of.... ~ Copyright: Maria Percic, Author All rights reserved }
Posted by Caleigh Brooks at 8/2/2009 7:30 PM 
Categories: Violence Against Women
Tags: blood sugar harvard medical school pituitary gland goosebumps unsympathetic nervous system heart rate peripheral nervous system Fight-or-Flight physiology adrenaline central nervous system hypothalamus abuse bronchi lungs pancreas spinal cord bloodstream Walter Bradford Cannon oxygen insulin biology sympathetic nervous system parasympathetic nervous system brain heart digestion fatty acids
Categories: Violence Against Women
Tags: blood sugar harvard medical school pituitary gland goosebumps unsympathetic nervous system heart rate peripheral nervous system Fight-or-Flight physiology adrenaline central nervous system hypothalamus abuse bronchi lungs pancreas spinal cord bloodstream Walter Bradford Cannon oxygen insulin biology sympathetic nervous system parasympathetic nervous system brain heart digestion fatty acids
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