You know that when you’re getting chased by a tiger, you’re
almost in a car accident, your “to do” list is overflowing, and you’re burning
the candle at both ends, your body’s “fight-or-flight” stress responses are going to get triggered.
But you might not know what else will trigger stress responses in your body,
and it’s important that you do!
Here are 10 surprising “fight-or-fight” triggers to avoid:
1.
Feelings of loneliness
As a species, we are tribal people, so from a survival
perspective, being alone too much can signal the amygdala to trigger stress
responses. Makes sense, right? If we’re dependent on the tribe to keep us safe,
forebrain feelings of loneliness can activate the amygdala’s danger signal.
Scientific evidence suggests that people who are part of a supportive community
have half the rate of heart disease when compared to lonely people, and this
may explain why.
2.
Hunger
If you feel hungry, the message you’re sending your
danger-seeking amygdala is “Houston, we have a problem! There’s not enough
food!” Of course, your fridge is full of food and maybe you’re 50 pounds
overweight, hungry because you’re trying to diet. But your amygdala is not
smart. It can’t tell the difference. So boom: you’re in stress response, and
your self-repair mechanisms are flipped off.
3.
Selling your soul for a paycheck
You know that your job can be stressful. But it’s not so
much being busy or working hard that will trigger your “fight-or-flight.” Sure, even a job you love can stress you out.
But you’re much more likely to wind up in chronic repetitive stress response
when your integrity is on the line.
4. A
pessimistic world view
If you’re a glass-half-empty kind of person, your forebrain
is communicating all kinds of scary messages to your amygdala on a regular
basis, thoughts like There’s not enough money, or Nothing ever goes my way, or
Nobody really loves me, or other Eeyore sorts of thoughts that stimulate stress
responses in the body. In fact, optimists have a 77% lower risk of heart
disease than pessimists, and this is probably why.
5.
Toxic relationships
While loving relationships and a supportive community are
calming to the amygdala and healthy for the body, you’re better off being alone
than being in the company of people who stress out your nervous system. When
you feel threatened in a relationship- not just physically, but emotionally-
your nervous system interprets that as danger.
6.
Being a worry wart
Anxious thoughts make the amygdala go ballistic. If you’re
filling your brain with worries about the kids, the state of affairs in
politics, whether or not your lover is going to break your heart, or how
quickly the glaciers are going to melt, you’re certain to trigger stress
responses.
7.
Childhood traumas
You know those old childhood issues that stick around if we
don’t heal them? You may not even realize that subconscious thoughts arising
from old traumas may be triggering your amygdala when you don’t even realize
it. Triggers such as places, scents, songs, or other sounds that remind you of
the trauma may trigger “fight-or-flight,” even if you’re completely unaware
that it’s happening.
8.
Unforgiven resentments
When you harbor resentments—against your ex, your mother,
your boss, whomever—you fuel your amygdala. Resentful thoughts are interpreted
by the amygdala just like thoughts of food scarcity or a tiger on the loose.
9.
Anger
It’s not just rage that will flip you into
“fight-or-flight.” Even thoughts like
Someone just spilled red wine on my white carpet can trigger your limbic
system.
10.
Feelings of helplessness
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