How Can We Manage the Fight-or-Flight Response During Imminent Threats?

We’ve all been in a space of imminent threat at some point in our lives.

When faced with an “imminent threat,” our nervous systems activate the “fight-or-flight” response, primarily through the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers physiological changes like increased heart rate, rapid breathing, muscle tension, and heightened alertness to prepare you to either confront the danger or flee from it.

This physiological response is designed to quickly mobilize your body’s resources to either confront the threat or escape from it, giving you the best chance of survival.

But what happens when that threat is no longer imminent?

I’ve found myself reflecting on if I’m in imminent threat over the political climate in the USA. It definitely feels like there’s something major transpiring…

Yet, in the comfort of my home, I am at the moment safe.

How do we go about our day to day lives under such pressure?

I firmly believe it’s by learning how to live in the present moment. We need to learn how to be proactive in getting our nervous systems out of fight-or-flight mode, so we’re no longer stuck trying to survive but thrive in this environment.