To watch a video presentation of this article, click on this link: Limbic System, Fight or Flight Response, Brain Injury Recovery Video Presentation
My friend, Mr. Ken Collins; has been speaking about the need to consider how the Limbic System and the flight or flight response affects individuals living with brain injuries with regard to stress.
Understanding how stress impacts the manner in which individuals respond and relate to life plays a major role in each individual’s recovery process.
The fight or flight response can be exacerbated by a number of factors in the lives of individuals living with the impact of a brain injury. The reaction to these factors, for individuals living with brain injuries; can be accelerated and exacerbated by filters in the brain that have been damaged due to a brain injury.
Understanding stressors and how these stressors impact our recovery process as brain injury survivors is very important.
Understanding how these filters have been damaged due to an injury to a brain injury can be very helpful. Understanding how these damaged filters impact how individuals react to the fight or flight process can be pivotal in the individual’s recovery process.
By understanding how these filters have been damaged, the individual then can take steps to monitor and use different techniques to process the stress.
Through being aware of how they react to stress, individuals can, in turn, use the stress to empower their lives. Instead of being a reactor to the stressor, through a fight or flight response; the individual can take steps to be empowered by each stressful situation or event that occurs in their lives.
In my experience, I have found that many stressful events, evoking a “fight or flight response” in present day events; have their origins in past events.
The fight or flight response can unconsciously be triggered by unresolved issues or resentments experienced in the body, soul, and spirit of the individual. These reactions can be exacerbated by damage to the filters in the brain that regulate impulse control.
These unconscious reactions can unknowingly create negative consequences in an individual’s life unless identified and addressed to a positive resolution.
Techniques to quiet the “storm” at the time of the “stressor” help to relieve the “stressor”. Facing, addressing and overcoming triggers, evoking the current stress/flight or flight response; can result in reducing future related stress.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Albert Einstein
Through the articles and video presentations that I have written, published and created for Second Chance to Live; I have spoken to facing, addressing and overcoming stress producing stimuli. Without being aware, I am prone to being victimized by repeating what has not worked for me, created unrest and stress in my life.
By facing, addressing and working to overcome the effect of “stressors” in my mind, body, and spirit I find that I am less susceptible to reacting to those stressors. Through being aware, I am able to make different and better choices in my life. Through using principles and strategies, I find that I am less prone to reacting to my life and more prone to responding to my life.
Facing, addressing and overcoming stress is and continues to be a process for me, as I encounter stress in my life. I have not arrived, but I am glad that I have the tools to face, address and overcome the impact of stressors in my life. I am grateful that I do not have to be controlled by the fight or flight response.
In April of 2012 I wrote an article in which I share what helps me to actor instead of a reactor in my life. Click on this link to read the article:
How to Move Forward — Make Peace with the Past
I am grateful to be aware of the fight or flight response and to have the tools to help me respond to what occurs in my life, instead of subconsciously or unconsciously reacting; to what occurs in my life.
I am grateful that I have tools to make peace with my past in my present, so that “stressors” related to my past do not continue to control how I respond in my present, as I live my life.
Make Peace with Your Past, so that Your Past Does Not Spoil Your Present
Thank you Mr. Ken Collins, for the important work that you are doing to bring awareness and understanding to how the Limbic System and the fight or flight response impacts the lives of individuals living with brain injuries.
You have my permission to share my articles and or video presentations with anyone you believe could benefit, however, I maintain ownership of the intellectual property AND my articles, video presentations and eBooks are not to be considered OPEN SOURCE. Please also provide a link back to Second Chance to Live. In the event that you have questions, please send those questions to me. All questions are good questions. I look forward to hearing from you. More Information: Copyright 2007 –2018
Thank you, Craig, for doing this. I really appreciate your support. The results of stress after a brain injury are constant and need to be managed if we are going to improve our quality of life. Martial Arts, exercise, yoga, mindfulness, and meditation work and we are examples of this. Recovery Happens!
You are welcome, Ken. Thank you for what you do to encourage hope, my friend. Hope, I believe is something that we create, not something that just happens. And creating hope is a life long process — little by little, one day at a time by not giving up.
Reading this was very important for me as a reminder during my stressful life following multiple concussions. Thank you.
You are welcome, Gail. Thank you for letting me know that the article helped you. Have a great rest of your weekend. Craig