Anxiety Saves Lives: Mamma Bear to the Rescue (Cambridge, MA)

In February of 2006, in a small village of northern Quebec, a group of children were playing street hockey.

Suddenly there was shouting.  

Mother of two, 41-year-old Lydia Angyiou noticed a polar bear approaching her 7-year-old son.

Can you imagine? What would you do if a wild polar bear came near you or your child or your pet? Well, Lydia went for it.

According to police reports, witnesses saw Lydia "kicking and punching" a 700-pound polar bear.  

She wrestled a living polar bear! And saved her child! 

Many of my clients have noticed that they, too, have a "Mama [or Papa] Bear" protector-instinct.Well this woman actually freakin' acted on it!

When our bodies get anxious, our biology is trying to protect the system from danger.

Your anxiety is trying to help you (and your loved ones).

Yep. I said it.

When humans are faced with situations that threaten our safety, our bodies have automatic survival defenses that help keep us alive. Common symptoms of anxiety include excessive worry, restlessness, muscle tension, feeling on-edge (hypervigilant), difficulty concentrating, irritability, nausea/stomach-ache/diarrhea and disturbed sleep.

Seem familiar?  

You might have heard the phrase "Fight or Flight Mode" but have you ever wondered, "WHY THE F*CK IS MY BODY DOING THIS!?"

Here are some facts about The Fight Or Flight Response -- aka the biological explanation behind the anxious, automatic behavior:

• Racing thoughts - thinking faster helps us to evaluate danger and make quicker decisions. Lydia didn't have time to weigh the pros and cons of standing up to the polar bear. She had to act quickly if she was going to try to save her son.  

• Increased Heart Rate -- A faster heart beat feeds more blood to the muscles which enhances the body's ability to fight or run away. According to a local police officer, Lydia "is about 5-foot-nothing and 90 pounds on a wet day." In the heat of the moment, all of the energy in her body became directed towards her heart. Size didn't matter.

• Dry mouth - Digestion shuts down during dangerous situations because energy is diverted towards the muscles (priming the body to fight or run away). This is also why we sometimes might feel Nausea and 'Butterflies' in the Tummy, as blood is diverted away from the digestive system which can lead to a fuzzy sensation in the stomach.

• Tense Muscles - All over the body the muscles tense up to get you ready to runaway or fight. Muscles may also shake or tremble as a way of priming the body for action -- think of a cat or dog butt before it gets ready to pounce or chase after the toy.

All of these automatic behaviors help us respond more quickly and efficiently to immediate threats, like wild polar bears in Quebec.  

The next time you notice your body's symptoms of anxiety, take a moment to pause and remember:

Just like Lydia Angyiou, within your own skin is super human strength and the ability to fight danger. As author Jen Sincero writes, "YOU ARE A BADASS."

I mean, you could fight a polar bear.  

Be well,

Hannah 

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