A nice post Andy.
Fight or Flight:
Firstly, that term is incorrect, kirsty has mentioned 6 steps. This is in fact the sequence that we have happen. However, it is not something we use with clients. Merely the biochemical process which our bodies and mind go through when faced with a perceived threat.
De-Fuse / Freeze / Flight / Fight /Fear and then Faint. - Always in that order.
Many people think it is run or fight, that is incorrect.
Firstly, we try to look to De-Fuse the situation, Reason, distraction bargaining anything that you think may help you avoid the threat.
If the first does not work and you cannot find a way to avoid it or talk your way out, then our stress level increases, you will stay very still, Freeze. Your focus of attention increases as you body prepares to take whatever measure is necessary for what may come next.
Flight then comes next, if you need to act then this becomes an option to try and move directly away from whatever is taking place.
Fight comes next, if the above has not worked, then this takes place. It is worth noting that fight does not mean a full on physical altercation although that can be one option, anything from a shout, an angry outburst, raising your voice, splaying arms and getting angry all falls under this category.
Fear If the fight response does not work then this time you freeze but all of that focus is directed inwards, you can feel helpless, unable to do anything, you freeze. That helplessness can then make you feel unable to deal with what is in front of you.
This is the part where trauma can be created yet that is a whole other topic and not relevant as such for this post.
The last part is faint. If everything keeps escalating then you faint.
Anxiety, Fear, Phobias. They are all something we can control, overcome and having a little more understanding can and does go a very long way. Especially as it does not matter what the phobia is, or what the anxiety or fear is about. The responses are always the same. Though we can feel that the intensity may increase depending on how we think about it and how much imagine it can scare us. Yet if it can be increased it can also be decreased.
Craig