The 5 Unknown Benefits of Fight or Flight: How to Use it for Thriving

We’ve all heard of fight or flight.

It’s a normal response during threat, however, if you have PTSD symptoms, you may experience hyperarousal, hyper vigilance and other uncomfortable symptoms of fight or flight when triggered.

For CPTSD survivors, you may experience this CONSTANTLY without necessarily having a known trigger or it may show up as bodily symptoms.

These symptoms can be so uncomfortable that we might even try to avoid them and any situation that could bring us into fight or flight because we can feel so out of control.

Yet did you know that fight or flight response has some major benefits when experienced safely?

With my clients, I try to help them understand that when we are safe and in a regulated body, the fight or flight response is the same response that can help us succeed, feel joy, accomplishment and if depressed - can help move us out of this response.

These are also other common benefits of the sympathetic response, which is the part of the nervous system that is associated with “fight or flight”:

Healthy libido, sexual creativity and orgasm: this fight or flight response is the same that helps us to feel those “butterflies," makes our heart race when we are feeling attracted to another person and when we are engaging in sexual activity. It is also the same response that helps us to reach orgasm.

The emotional state of JOY: when we experience this emotion, it is associated with the sympathetic response. It is a hyperaroused state and instead of experiencing hyper vigilance and constriction - we actually feel expansive.

Mobilization towards our goals: when experienced safely, the sympathetic response can mobilize us towards our own success and recovery. Goals are actually a form of good stress (not distress which triggers fight or flight) and the sympathetic response can help us rise to the challenge.

Aids in Focus and Concentration: when we are engaged in an activity, the sympathetic response - along with the release of neurotransmitters of dopamine and norepinephrine, help us to stay on task. This is also why those with ADD/ADHD are given stimulants to trigger the sympathetic response and aid in focus.

Buffer to Depression: when we are depressed, we often are in the shutdown mode or recovery state of our nervous system known as parasympathetic state. Although this is important in healing, when we are in depression, we need a little sympathetic response to mobilize us and help us return to a more elevated emotional state. This is often why engaging in movement and a new activity can help improve depression.

So while we may want to avoid the distressing aspects of fight or flight, what it is more important to build safety in our lives so that we can experience the rejuvenating and enlivening aspects of the sympathetic nervous system.

How can you begin to work with the sympathetic response?

Here are some of the general recommendations I make with my clients. Please note that this is often highly individualized but are good starting points:

Play. This is the harmonious balance between safety and fight or flight. It can help us to disconnect the traumatic memory with the physiology of fight or flight in a safe, healthy way.

Enjoyable movement. Ideally, the movement should raise your heart rate slightly to a tolerable level. This can help with blood circulation and improve oxygenation of the brain, which helps give a boost to our mood. Please note that if you have a heart condition, it may be prudent to seek the consultation of your doctor.

Listening to Upbeat Music. Listening to your favorite music can help to stimulate your sympathetic response, especially when upbeat and enjoyable. Don’t forget that dancing is a plus!

Want to learn how to work with your fight or flight response and tap into feeling more alive?

Join our Manage PTSD 6 Week Program starting September 6. You can find more information here.