Flight, fight and flight response & Chronic stress

Question 1

Define/describe flight (fff response)

Answer 1

Fleeing the stressor (threat) is perceived as the safest option, this depends on the sympthetic nervous system’s activation where it. releases adrenaline to help the body flee

Question 2

Define/describe fight (fff response)

Answer 2

Confrount stressor; this is characterised by the sympathetic nervous system response to energise the body to better deal with the danger ( promting adrenaline to be released from adrenal glands )

Question 3

Define/describe freeze (fff response)

Answer 3

Characterized by the bodies immobility & shock in response to the stressor because the stressor seems so threatening that the body cannot respond; can also occur if body perceives that it lacks energy/time to fight against or flee threat/stressor

Question 4

What division is dominate during freeze?

Answer 4

Parasympathetic NS (brief activation, body reactions such as blood pressure drops

Question 5

What does freeze also provide for the body?

Answer 5

Allows the nervous system to prepare to immediately shift into flight or fight action; thus making it not a passive state but a parasympathetic break on certain body systems

Question 6

Define chronic stress

Answer 6

A form of stress that endures for several months or longer, usually intense and more detrimental to our health

Question 7

Define cortisol

Answer 7

A hormone released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating & maintaining heightened arousal

Question 8

During FFF response, what does cortisol do?

Answer 8

Helps to energies the body by including release of glucose & a rise in blood sugar lvls

Question 9

Name some facts of cortisol

Answer 9

• Released by adrenal glands & involves short n long term responses to stress
• Cortisol also helps the body to remain above-average lvls of arousal even after initial fff response is over
• Suppresses the immune system

Question 10

Name 2 negative effects of high levels of cortisol in the blood over time

Answer 10

• Causes the body’s functioning to operate at heightened levels and depletes energy required to fight off bacteria
• Increases susceptibility to colds & contagious diseases and risk of cancer & immune diseases, psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression also increases with ongoing chronic stress