Spooky Season for the Nervous System: Demystifying the Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response
When we step into haunted houses, fake monsters jump out of the shadows, and we may gasp, jump, or scream. We may even hear others behind us or ahead of us scream. Seconds later, we may then laugh with our friends or family as the adrenaline washes out of your system. We know that experience is a set up meant to intentionally give us a fright and that nothing can happen to us. And yet our mind and body respond in a manner that makes it all feel real.
It’s fun when it’s entertainment. But for millions of people—especially high performers, athletes, and those navigating chronic stress or trauma—a similar "haunted house" reaction is happening inside their bodies during normal, everyday moments: during a team meeting, right before a game, or while sitting in traffic.
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