The day the world change, Spring 2020, where were you, and who was ready for this!? Someone once said, “Crisis reveals, and absolute crisis reveals absolutely.” According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention):
“Crises, emergencies, and disasters happen. Disasters are different from personal and family emergencies, and not just because they are larger in scale. Disasters that take a toll on human life are characterized by change, high levels of uncertainty, and complexity. In a crisis, affected people take in information, process information, and act on information differently than they would during non-crisis times. People or groups may exaggerate their communication responses. They may revert to more basic or instinctive fight-or-flight reasoning.” (CERC)
CERC. “CERC Psychology.” 2019. CDC. PDF. 22 May 2020.
Fight, Flight, or Freeze – for many years, I wondered why I react the way I do in times of stress and uncertainty. I have personally questioned my reaction when I undermine myself and short-circuit my best efforts. It is like I become my own worst enemy. The challenge of the moment often reveals a perceived lacking and we find ourselves in a fight, flight, or freeze mindset. According to an article medically reviewed by Timothy J. Legg, Ph.D., CRNP and written by Kirsten Nunez:
“During a fight-flight-freeze response, many physiological changes occur. The reaction begins in your amygdala, the part of your brain responsible for perceived fear. The amygdala responds by sending signals to the hypothalamus, which stimulates the autonomic nervous system (ANS).” (Nunez and Legg)
Nunez, Kirsten and Timothy J. Ph. D., CRNP Legg. “Fight, Flight, Freeze: What This Response Means.” 21 February 2020. healthline. Article. 22 May 2020.
“The ANS consists of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The sympathetic nervous system drives the fight-or-flight response, while the parasympathetic nervous system drives freezing. How you react depends on which system dominates the reaction at the time. Specifically, fight-or-flight is an active defense response where you fight or flee. Your heart rate gets faster, which increases oxygen flow to your major muscles. Your pain perception drops, and your hearing sharpens. These changes help you act appropriately and rapidly. Freezing is fight-or-flight on hold, where you further prepare to protect yourself. It is also called reactive immobility or attentive immobility. It involves similar physiological changes, but instead, you stay completely still and get ready for the next move.” (Nunez and Legg)
Nunez, Kirsten and Timothy J. Ph. D., CRNP Legg. “Fight, Flight, Freeze: What This Response Means.” 21 February 2020. healthline. Article. 22 May 2020.
Under certain circumstances or for short periods of time, these responses are wise and appropriate. Neuroscience has shown that being in this state for a prolonged and continual amount of time can be detrimental to mental and physical health. Being stuck in this state will also affect optimum performance.
So how are you going to respond to historical events? As we navigate through these unprecedented times, what are some tools we can practice in reducing harm and promoting health? How do we prepare for the next move in a healthy way? I am convinced there is no going back to “normal.” This crisis has revealed the inequities that we need to address. There is exciting work to be done. Your family and community will need positive, mentally alert people to help lead the way into a new day. But what disciplines do we adopt and practice for the coming of a new age?
Coping Techniques
Mindfulness techniques! By doing activities that promote mindfulness, you can counteract the stress response with the relaxation response. To prevent the survival response of fight-flight-freeze, mindful practices have been life-changing for me. Mindfulness has become a widespread practice for many while others have shied away from the practice because of their religions. As a Christian myself, I have no conflicting feelings with mindfulness and my own belief system. Christians have used mindful practices through its history. The psalmist, David, said be still and know that I am God. Learning to become conscious and present in the moment is a powerful tool when the world around you are stressed, distressed, and bewildered. When these techniques are done regularly, you can improve how to react to stress by learning to be still and in the moment.
Another strategy is regular exercise. Physical activity reduces the stress response by decreasing stress hormones (including adrenaline and cortisol), increasing endorphins, improving calmness, and promoting better sleep. These benefits can boost your mood and sense of relaxation, which helps you better cope with this new day.
Finally, social support is going to be critical in this new day. It’s important to nurture healthy social relationships. Social support can minimize your psychological and physiological reactions to perceived threats. Along with providing a sense of safety, community and family will be the lifesaver in these coming days. It will be the foundation that will help all those who are willing to come together to prosper and thrive.
ArkBuilders is committed to building community in communities! In this kaizen moment, ArkBuilders and its strategic partners are positioning themselves to support our neighbors and take advantage of the opportunities to rebuild our connection to each other. One word of caution: we must take care of our inner life first! For what would we gain to obtain the whole world but lose our souls in the process.
