What can you tell me about different types of fear responses like on a physical level? Is that related to "going into shock"? Also this kinda blurs the lines of your jurisdiction, so if you can't really answer I totally get it. Thanks so much for everything you do!!!!!!!!!

Hey there nonny! Actually, physiology of the adrenaline response is exactly my jurisdiction :) You asked for a “physical level”, so I’m going to talk physiology, not psychology. 

Physiologically, what’s going to happen is that your character’s body is going to release a bunch of neurotransmitters and hormones, primarily epinephrine (AKA adrenaline). Adrenaline has a number of physiological effects: 

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
  
• Increased respiratory rate
  
• Fear and panic (when induced by fear) 
  
• Dilated pupils 
  
• Sweating and a feeling of being hot all over 
  
• Increased blood flow to muscles; decreased blood flow to organs 
  
• Nausea, vomiting 
• “Pucker factor” – increased rectal tone. Yes, really. 
  
• Tunnel vision
• Fine motor control is difficult or lost entirely 
• Decreased sensation of pain

People get stronger, feel less pain, and can think less clearly under the effects of an adrenaline surge, aka adrenaline rush, aka sympathetic surge, aka catecholamine dump. 

The correlation between the fear response and a character entering shock – actual, medical shock, ie systemic hypoperfusion, or not enough blood flow getting  where it needs to be – is that adrenaline is the body’s first line of defense against the effects of shock. Adrenaline tightens up the blood vessels, which increases blood pressure (can normalize it if it’s low). Adrenaline also helps us get out of lethal situations – or at least, it helped our ancestors do that. 

What’s useful to understand about the relationship between adrenaline and shock is that if shock is the problem, adrenaline is the solution. 

However, this amazing superpower humans have comes at a cost. Afterward, we get exhausted. We also can’t think as clearly or make rational decisions during these episodes. 

For a surprisingly good guide to adrenaline response from a blog I don’t necessarily recommend in general, check out [this article from the Art of Manliness]. The research about this is mainly based on soldiers in combat, but it gets discussed actually a lot in the medical sphere, because when a patient is shitting the bed in front of you, you need to know how to remain calm. 

Hope this helped! 

xoxo, Aunt Scripty

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