Imagine you’re driving down the highway, relaxed, when suddenly a car swerves into your lane. Your body reacts instantly—your heart races, your muscles tense, and your breathing becomes shallow. This is the well-known fight-or-flight response, an ancient survival mechanism designed to protect you.
What happens in your body at that moment? Your adrenal glands release adrenaline and cortisol, increasing your alertness and reaction speed. Your blood pressure rises, pushing oxygen and energy to your muscles. Digestion is put on hold since it’s not a priority in a moment of danger. Your immune system slows down because energy is needed elsewhere. Reproductive function and libido decrease—reproduction isn’t important when survival is at stake.
Normally, when the danger passes, your body resets, and all systems return to normal. But what happens when this stress response never turns off?