It might feel uncomfortable, but anxiety can actually be a helpful human response. Anxiety is our body’s in-built mechanism for keeping us safe. It helps our mind and body perform more effectively in stressful situations. Anxiety can help protect us from danger. When we feel threatened, our body triggers physiological changes. This is often referred to as the ‘fight, flight or freeze response’. It’s a built-in defence mechanism and it happens automatically in our bodies. Hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released, which can: • Make us more alert • Make our hearts beat faster, which increases oxygen flow to our muscles so we can respond more quickly • Reduce our perception of pain, so we can focus on the danger we are facing. When we feel the threat has passed, our body will slowly return to its natural state. To learn more about anxiety in more detail, please follow the link to our tool kit here: https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/topics/anxiety/understanding-anxiety/what-is-anxiety If you experience anxiety, please remember Lifeline is always here for you if you want to speak to someone. You can reach Lifeline via our phone service on 13 11 14 or via our online text service 0477 13 11 14 or chat service (https://www.lifeline.org.au/crisis-chat), all available 24/7.