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Find out more about the fight-or-flight response.

It’s not hard to see how this heightened state would have been extremely useful for our ancient ancestors. If a saber-toothed tiger is about to pounce, an acute stress response could mean the difference between staying alive or becoming dinner. Even today, if you are in a truly life threatening situation, the fight-or-flight response can be lifesaving. But too much stress can impair your ability to think clearly at all. The Attack of the Amygdala Most of us don’t experience life-or-death situations very often, if ever. Modern-day fears are often described as symbolic in nature—saber-toothed tigers exist only in our

Teen Guides to Health & Wellness: Anxiety, Depression, and Mood Disorders

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