The Origins of Survival

Imagine this Scenario: A monkey comes head-to-head with a leopard, an apex predator. Immediately, the monkey’s body enters survival mode, also called the acute stress response or fight-flight response.

What’s happening in the monkey’s body:

1. Activation of the amygdala (the brain’s alarm system):

   • The moment the monkey sees the leopard, its amygdala recognizes a threat and signals the hypothalamus to activate the stress response.

   • This bypasses slower rational thinking - survival comes first.

2. Sympathetic nervous system kicks in:

   • Adrenaline and noradrenaline flood the body.

   • Heart rate skyrockets to pump blood to muscles.

   • Breathing accelerates to deliver more oxygen.

   • Pupils dilate to see better.

   • Glucose is released for energy.
     
     

3. Cortisol release:

   • Cortisol sustains alertness and energy for the long haul.

   • This supports hypervigilance, helping the monkey scan constantly for danger.

   • However, it also suppresses digestion, growth, and immune function, because survival takes priority.
     
     

4. Muscle tension and readiness:

   • The monkey’s muscles tense, preparing for flight or fight.

   • Some monkeys may also freeze to avoid detection, or fawn (appease) if flight/fight seem impossible.
     
     

5. Heightened senses:

   • Hearing, smell, and vision are all sharpened.

   • Time perception may slow—every detail matters.

Hypervigilance: why it lasts

Even after the immediate threat is gone, the monkey remains on edge. This is because:

• Cortisol and adrenaline can linger in the bloodstream, keeping the nervous system primed.

• The brain remembers threats intensely, which is adaptive in the wild—better safe than sorry.

• Hypervigilance can last hours, days, or longer, depending on the perceived danger and past trauma.

Relating to humans

Our bodies react the same way to perceived threats, even if the danger is social, emotional, or psychological rather than physical:

• Fight: confront the threat (e.g., argument, boundary-setting)

• Flight: escape (e.g., avoid people or situations)

• Freeze: stop or dissociate when we feel powerless

• Fawn: appease to reduce perceived threat

These responses are not conscious choices - they’re automatic survival mechanisms.

Turning off the survival response

Humans can signal to the nervous system that it’s safe using techniques to engage the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest):

1. Breathwork: Slow, deep breaths signal safety to the brain.

2. Grounding: Feeling your feet on the floor, noticing textures or temperature.

3. Self-soothing: Gentle touch, humming, or comforting movements.

4. Mindful awareness: Naming emotions (“I am anxious”) reduces amygdala hyperactivity.

5. Safe social connection: Being with someone trustworthy tells the brain it’s okay to relax.

Important: For chronic trauma survivors, the nervous system can “stick” in survival mode. Repeatedly practicing these safety cues can reset the nervous system over time.