Fight of Flight 101
What are the two main options your body prepares for during a fight-or-flight response?
What are fighting and fleeing?
Name one physical change that happens during fight-or-flight.
What is increased heart rate / sweating / shallow breathing / muscle tension?
What part of the brain is responsible for thinking things through and calming down reactions?
What is the prefrontal cortex?
What is the "5-4-3-2-1" grounding technique?
What is naming 5 things you see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you smell, and 1 thing you taste?
You’re about to take a big test and your hands are sweaty. What’s happening?
What is the fight-or-flight response?
What part of the brain activates the fight-or-flight response?
What is the amygdala?
What happens to your digestion when your body is in a fight-or-flight state?
What is digestion slows down or stops to save energy for muscles?
What chemical is released to help with heightened awareness during fight-or-flight?
What is cortisol?
Name one strategy to calm your body during a stress response.
What is deep breathing / grounding / counting backwards / mindfulness / muscle relaxation?
You’re in a loud crowd, and your heart starts racing. What might you do to calm down?
What is deep breathing, finding a quiet space, or using grounding techniques?
What hormone is released during the fight-or-flight response to help the body react quickly?
What is adrenaline?
Why do your pupils dilate during stress?
To let in more light and improve vision in case you need to react quickly.
This part of the brain “hijacks” your body during a sudden fear response.
What is the amygdala?
What’s a common breathing technique used to calm down when stressed?
What is diaphragmatic or deep breathing?
You get a surprise phone call with bad news and immediately feel a rush of adrenaline. What’s going on in your body?
What is the release of stress hormones (like adrenaline and cortisol) activating the fight-or-flight response?
Which nervous system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?
What is the sympathetic nervous system?
When you're in fight-or-flight mode, why does your blood flow change?
What is blood flows away from non-essential areas (like the stomach) and towards muscles?
Which part of the brain controls the "freeze" response during extreme fear?
What is the brainstem?
What is the benefit of mindfulness when you're experiencing stress?
What is it helps you stay focused on the present moment and reduces anxiety?
Your friend yells at you unexpectedly. You freeze and can’t speak. What kind of stress response is this?
What is “freeze,” a variation of fight-or-flight?
True or False: The fight-or-flight response is always bad.
What is false?
What is one way your breathing changes during fight-or-flight?
What is breathing becomes faster and more shallow to get oxygen to the muscles?
What is the term for the part of the brain that helps you think and make decisions, especially under pressure?
What is the prefrontal cortex?
What is the "5-second rule" in emotional regulation?
What is taking 5 seconds to pause and breathe before reacting to a stressful situation?
You’re about to perform in front of a large audience, and your mind goes blank. What’s going on in your brain and body?
What is the body is in fight-or-flight mode, the brain is triggered by fear, and you’re experiencing anxiety that can impair performance?