Fight Or Flight Response Quotes

“Courage is about learning how to function despite the fear, to put aside your instincts to run or give in completely to the anger born from fear. Courage is about using your brain and your heart when every cell of your body is screaming at your to fight or flee - and then following through on what you believe is the right thing to do.”
― Jim Butcher, Ghost Story

“Why are we designed to see the world as supremely beautiful just as we're about to be snuffed? Do rabbits feel the same as the fox teeth bite down on their necks? Is it mercy?”
― Margaret Atwood, The Year of the Flood

“The way I see it, our natural human instinct is to fight or flee that which we perceive to be dangerous. Although this mechanism evolved to protect us, it serves as the single greatest limiting process to our growth. To put this process in perspective and not let it rule my life, I
expect the unexpected;
make the unfamiliar familiar;
make the unknown known;
make the uncomfortable comfortable;
believe the unbelievable.”
― Charles F. Glassman, Brain Drain - The Breakthrough That Will Change Your Life

“HYPERAROUSAL
After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment. Physiological arousal continues unabated. In this state of hyerarousal, which is the first cardinal symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder, the traumatized person startles easily, reacts irritably to small provocations, and sleeps poorly. Kardiner propsed that "the nucleus of the [traumatic] neurosis is physioneurosis."8 He believed that many of the symptoms observed in combat veterans of the First World War-startle reactions, hyperalertness, vigilance for the return of danger, nightmares, and psychosomatic complaints-could be understood as resulting from chronic arousal of the autonomic nervous system. He also interpreted the irritability and explosively aggressive behavior of traumatized men as disorganized fragments of a shattered "fight or flight" response to overwhelming danger.”
― Judith Lewis Herman, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror

“Thousands of years ago, when our ancestors encountered a predatory animal like a lion, it was best to react immediately and not stand around thinking about the lion, admiring its beauty or wondering why it was bothering them instead of tracking down some tasty antelope. Thus, the fast track to the amygdala kept our ancestors alive.”
― John B. Arden, Rewire Your Brain: Think Your Way to a Better Life

“The aggressive person fights. The passive one runs away. But the assertive person stands ground, assesses the situation, adapts, and acts with purpose and passion. Be that person.”
― Charles F Glassman

“The terrifying fear of a crash had triggered the fight-or-flight response in the child, making him burn a mule, but only he knew about it—thanks to his tight and reliable underpants.”
― Pawan Mishra, Coinman: An Untold Conspiracy

“Fear was the hand of the devil holding a scalding hot branding iron and touching your brain and your stomach and yelling at you to run with leaden feet.”
― Dan Groat, Monarchs and Mendicants

“Let’s be honest with ourselves for a moment, shall we. Trying to argue a point, prove we are right—that we are a good person—is more about winning, or quite simply, protect ourselves from losing. It all boils down to fight or flight. Ultimately, when we are driven by these two forces, we end up fighting and fleeing the ultimate truth which is not of this earth.”
― Charles F Glassman

“No matter how your body and brain responded, what happened wasn’t your fault.

If you fought with everything you had but were still overpowered, that’s not your fault.

If you tried to run away but couldn’t, that’s not your fault.

If fighting or fleeing didn’t seem like safe options, that’s not your fault.

If your automatic survival response was to comply and attempt to please, that’s not your fault.”
― Cheyenne Wilson, We Are the Evidence: A Handbook for Finding Your Way After Sexual Assault

“Fight and flight in accord. Which one is happening is subject to change without notice.”
― Marc MacYoung, A Professional's Guide to Ending Violence Quickly: How Bouncers, Bodyguards, and Other Security Professionals Handle Ugly Situations