FFF Response

​Chapter 2: The Orgin Story
The Fight, Flight, Freeze Response

​The Orgin of the Anxiety Squad is a survival mechanism called the Fight-Flight-Freeze (FFF) response. It is activated when the brain senses danger and is not limited to human beings.

Let's see if you can identify what type of action (fight-flight-freeze) the reponse triggered?

Multiple Choice

A deer sees a leopard lurking in the bushes. The FFF response is activated instantly, sending the deer leaping in the other direction. Which reponse is used?

• Flight

• Fight

• Freeze

Multiple Choice

A monkey falls into a raging river and thrashes around for anything that can help it get to shore. Which FFF response is used?

• Flight

• Fight

• Freeze

Multiple Choice

An octopus senses an unknown figure approaching and camouflages itself with the ocean floor. Which FFF response is used?

• Fight

• Fight

• Freeze

Multiple Choice

A buffalo is standing its ground against a lion threatening its herd.

• Flight

• Fight

• Freeze

Multiple Choice

A possum plays dead and goes limp when it senses a human approaching. Which FFF response is used?

• Flight

• Fight

• Freeze

Multiple Choice

You are swimming a pool, all of a sudden a bear climbs into the pool with you. Which FFF response is used?

• Flight

• Fight

• Freeze

​It is important to remember that not all danger is in the form of an opponet.
For example, the monkey is not faced by an actual predator that it must fight, but it is a situation that it needs to fight itself out of.

Freezing can also have different reactions such as:
Playing dead: just like a possum
Hiding: taking cover until the danger is gone
Appeasing: cooperating instead of fighting in order to stay safe
Dissociation: switching off mentally to avoid the memory or bad feelings
Depression: if the moment was too stressful, it can make us feel numb, helpless and drained of power

​The brain constantly receives information from our sensory organs, the eyes, nose, ears, skin and tongue.

​What happens during the FFF Response?

​This information heps the brain to deceide what to do then sends signals to the body to excute the decisions.

For example, you feel raindrops on your skin. The brain registers that it is raining and that you need to find shelter to stay dry. It then sends signals to your eyes to find shelter and to your legs and arms to get there safetly.

​When the brain receives information signaling danger, it activates the FFF response that realases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.






A series of physiological changes are then triggered tohelp the brain make quick decisions and enable the body to execute them swiftly.






Every physiological change has a purpose. Let's see if you can you find the matching purpose for each.

​More oxygen reaches the brain, which helps it;
-register more sensations
-make quicker decisions
-sends signals faster

​​WHY?

​you rheart starts to race
-blood rushes to your head
-breathing becomes shallow and faster
-you may hyperventilate

​​What does it feel like?

​Changes when Flight and Flight activated

• Item

• Item

• Item

​Lungs and Heart functions increase

​Digestive System slows down and bladder muscles relax

WHY?
-moves blood flow to other areas
-prevents distractions like hunger or needing to use the restroom

What does it feel like?
-loss of appetite
-sick/vomiting
-instant urination

​​WHY?

• alertness

• sensistivity

• vigilance

​​What does it feel like?

​Pupils dilate peripheral vision reduces

• Better eyesight and focus to be alert to any changes in the situation

​​WHY?

​​What does it feel like?

​Blood Pressure increases

• Offers the body an extra boost of energy

• Prevents excess blood flow in case of injury

• sudden burst of energy

• trembling

• restlessness

WHY?

​​What does it feel like?

​Muscle Tension increases & blood flow goes towards the muscles

• Increases agility (movement)

• Bloow flor carries oxygen and minerals to muscles for stamina

• Pins and Needles

• sweating

• tingling or numbness

​​WHY?

​What does it feel like?

​Brain focuses all thoughts on the situation

• Helps maintain focus

• prevention from distractions

• sends new information

• Racing thoughts

• Inability to focus on anything else

​If the danger is a bear in the woods, it an trigger FEAR (the Guardian) or PANIC (the Warrior)- which can help us make a quick escape.


A Milder threat like loud thunder may caue a weaker response. This would cause the Spy to come in to help our Anxiety.


We owe our lives to the FFF response. Without it, there would be no you and me, no man, no moon and no anxiety toolkit without it.



But there is a downside......

​The Strategist, Stress can visit us in traffic jams right? These kind of situations can cause the brain to turn the response on and off seeral times, sometimes multiple times a day.

This means our body is producing stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) which gets different systems in our bodies to become more ramped up. This can trigger physiological changes.


Over time, this can be exhausting to the brain and the body. This can cause too much stress and can affect our concentration and focus. It can also lower our immune system which can put us at risk of more illmess.

Multiple Choice

The Anxiety squad is triggered by what?

• The thought of fear

• The perception of any kind of threat

• The thought of being alone

• The perception of any kind of threat or what the brain senses as danger