One thing that both helps and hinders us when we’re faced with an unexpected emergency or catastrophe is our physiological reaction to fear.

It’s obviously a very primitive response, and activates what scientists call our “fight or flight” mechanism. Our fear circuit is located in the amygdala section of our brains. This is shaped like an almond,and located deep within our temporal lobes. Once alerted to danger, the amygdala sends the alert out to the rest of your body.

Your blood chemistry changes so it can coagulate more easily in case you’re wounded. Your blood vessels constrict so you lose less blood in case of injury. Your blood pressure and heart rate shoot up.

Your hormonal balance changes. Immediately, cortisol and adrenaline control your metabolism, so you have more strength and energy. Your muscles are stronger. Your body creates natural painkillers.

However, this natural response, while quite effective back in the days when we had to either run from danger or fight it, unfortunately reduces our brain’s ability to think clearly. We don’t perceive our surroundings as much. Our senses narrow to focus on just what’s important to survival. Many people get tunnel vision, though some report seeing more clearly than usual. Cortisol reduces our ability to think rationally.

Unfortunately, in many disasters we can’t flee unless we can find the exit or the stairwell. We can’t get out of our airplane seat because we treat the seat belt we try to punch a button as though it were an automobile seat belt instead of the type on an airplane.

If we can get moving, we’re more distracted by the noise, smoke, confusion, and darkness, so it’s harder to find the exit that’s no longer lit in handy red letter.

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