What is fight-or-flight?

"Fight-or-flight is when your body gets ready to either run away or stand up and face something scary."

Imagine you're playing in the park, and suddenly a big dog runs toward you. Your heart starts beating faster, your legs feel strong, and you might even feel like you can run really fast, that’s fight-or-flight in action!

When something surprising or scary happens, your brain sends out a message to the rest of your body. It's like when you're about to ride a roller coaster, you get all excited and ready for the big drop.

Your heart beats faster, giving your muscles more energy. Your lungs work harder so you can run or breathe deeply if you’re scared. You might even feel your hands tighten or your feet get ready to move, just like when you're about to jump into a pool!

This happens because your body wants to help you survive. If the dog is friendly, maybe you’ll choose to fight by petting it. If not, you might pick to run away and hide behind a tree, just like when you're scared of the dark!