flyktrespons

Flyktrespons, also known as the fight-or-flight response, is an involuntary physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. This ancient survival mechanism prepares an organism to either confront the threat or escape from it.

The response is initiated by the sympathetic nervous system, a division of the autonomic nervous system. When the brain's amygdala detects danger, it signals the hypothalamus, which in turn triggers a cascade of hormonal and neural changes throughout the body. Adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) are released, leading to a rapid increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Blood is diverted from non-essential functions, such as digestion, to the muscles, preparing them for intense physical activity. Pupils dilate to improve vision, and glucose is released into the bloodstream for quick energy.

This physiological surge allows an individual to react swiftly and powerfully, whether by standing their ground to fight or by fleeing to safety. Once the perceived threat has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system takes over, calming the body and returning it to a state of rest and equilibrium, a process sometimes referred to as the "rest-and-digest" state. While highly effective for immediate survival in dangerous situations, chronic activation of the flyktrespons due to persistent stress can have detrimental effects on long-term health.