Humans have evolved and survived for many thousands of years mainly due to their automatic emotions, and one of the most successful in keeping us alive is FEAR. The feeling of fear is associated with anxiety, especially if we are already feeling insecure and vulnerable. The involuntary feeling of fear triggers distinctive neurons in the centre of the brain which in turn, help us to almost instantly, choose the best method to use so that we survive. Usually, if faced with immediate danger we fight… To help us, our heart rate increases, adrenaline is pumped into our muscles, our pupils dilate and we fight with all our might. If the danger is somewhat further away our body slows down and we can freeze. Our heart-rate and breathing slows down and we stay very still and quiet hoping that the predator or whatever is scaring us goes by, another type of freeze is to faint, hoping to give the impression that we are of no use, as we are already dead. The final automatic response to our fear of danger is to run, flee, as fast as we can during which, our heart rate rises, adrenaline pumps into our muscles and we go! And although you probably have all this information to hand. It’s great to know that, even though fear may make us feel sick in our stomach, it is our anxious and fearful emotion that has kept our spices, and many animals alive, fighting and kicking for so many thousands of years.
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