Halloween; Can we die of fear?
October 31st is great day, when several nations are preparing for a unique and exceptional occasion; Halloween, the best known modern tradition is that kids dress up in scary costumes like ghosts, witches, monsters or vampires and go door-to-door asking for treats saying: "Trick or treat" which means a subtle suggestion that if a treat (like candy) is given, then the child will not perform a “trick" (mischief) on the owner of the house. The evening can also be marked by bonfires, fireworks, children's games, reading horror tales or Halloween poems, and the broadcast of horror movies as well. Since the child is the main element of this tradition, the dread can be dangerous for some children, especially if some exaggerate and increase the dosage of horror!
How does the body react to fear?
How does the body react to fear?
Faced with a threatening situation, the brain triggers a series of reactions that allow us to face the danger.
The Halloween party would be a legacy of Samain, the Celtic celebration of the dead. This event paid tribute to loved ones who had lost their lives in the past year and received their advice for an evening. Because of its origins in connection with death, Halloween is an opportunity to disguise itself as scary characters, for the enjoyment of adults and kids.
But why do some symbols scare us? And what is the exact reaction of our body? Fear, says Mindy Weisberger writer on 'Live Science', is a survival mechanism that starts with a source of stress. When he feels threatened, the brain triggers a series of reactions that help us escape or remain motionless depending on the danger. The production of neurotransmitters and hormones causes an increase in heart rate and respiration, decreases blood flow to the intestine and sends it to the muscles and thus prepares for running or fighting.
Why does fear paralyze us?
Not being able to move because of a shock may seem like a useless reflex. Yet it has advantages.
If a snake falls on top of the branches of a tree, there are two options: you can fight to get rid of it or run away as quickly as possible. The fight-and-flight response is a primitive and powerful survival reaction. When the brain perceives danger, it releases adrenaline into the blood. The heart rate is increasing and our attention is focused on what threatens us. Our personality, as well as our judgment, will influence our decision to escape or fight.
But there's a third possible option, even if it seems to us imposed more than chosen: immobility. At first sight, this reflex does not seem very suitable. However, the surprise we feel about an unexpected event provokes useful reactions, explains Rachael Sharman in an article wrote on the site of 'Popular Science'. Our eyes widen to improve the peripheral field of vision, the mouth opens, and the breathing stops to prepare to scream and/or run. All the energy of the person is preparing to evaluate the degree of dangerousness of the situation.
Protect mental health
Paralyzing is often an extension of the feeling of surprise and shock, which occurs when the fight or flight is not "available" because the person feels trapped. From a point of view of evolutionary history, this reaction would have occurred at the time of the hunt, explains Popular Science. As for many animals, paralysis caused by fear allows us to "make the death". The brain takes over and immobilizes us, hoping that the predator will lose interest in us and move away on its own.
But paralysis could also bring emotional benefits by protecting mental health from psychological damage. Many of the people who have experienced this experience limit the damage of trauma.
Faced with a threatening situation, the brain triggers a series of reactions that allow us to face the danger.
The Halloween party would be a legacy of Samain, the Celtic celebration of the dead. This event paid tribute to loved ones who had lost their lives in the past year and received their advice for an evening. Because of its origins in connection with death, Halloween is an opportunity to disguise itself as scary characters, for the enjoyment of adults and kids.
But why do some symbols scare us? And what is the exact reaction of our body? Fear, says Mindy Weisberger writer on 'Live Science', is a survival mechanism that starts with a source of stress. When he feels threatened, the brain triggers a series of reactions that help us escape or remain motionless depending on the danger. The production of neurotransmitters and hormones causes an increase in heart rate and respiration, decreases blood flow to the intestine and sends it to the muscles and thus prepares for running or fighting.
Why does fear paralyze us?
Not being able to move because of a shock may seem like a useless reflex. Yet it has advantages.
If a snake falls on top of the branches of a tree, there are two options: you can fight to get rid of it or run away as quickly as possible. The fight-and-flight response is a primitive and powerful survival reaction. When the brain perceives danger, it releases adrenaline into the blood. The heart rate is increasing and our attention is focused on what threatens us. Our personality, as well as our judgment, will influence our decision to escape or fight.
But there's a third possible option, even if it seems to us imposed more than chosen: immobility. At first sight, this reflex does not seem very suitable. However, the surprise we feel about an unexpected event provokes useful reactions, explains Rachael Sharman in an article wrote on the site of 'Popular Science'. Our eyes widen to improve the peripheral field of vision, the mouth opens, and the breathing stops to prepare to scream and/or run. All the energy of the person is preparing to evaluate the degree of dangerousness of the situation.
Protect mental health
Paralyzing is often an extension of the feeling of surprise and shock, which occurs when the fight or flight is not "available" because the person feels trapped. From a point of view of evolutionary history, this reaction would have occurred at the time of the hunt, explains Popular Science. As for many animals, paralysis caused by fear allows us to "make the death". The brain takes over and immobilizes us, hoping that the predator will lose interest in us and move away on its own.
But paralysis could also bring emotional benefits by protecting mental health from psychological damage. Many of the people who have experienced this experience limit the damage of trauma.
Adapt the reaction
Some of the organism's responses to fear are a legacy, now useless, of our ancestors. The fact that our hair bristles, for example, does not really make sense today, when it had to work in the days when we were covered with fur. But stopping like an animal that sees a threat, as well as the emotional mechanisms that increase our attention are always helpful. Moreover, even babies and young children show signs of fear in case of noise, movement, or in front of an unknown face, even in case of non-real threats like monsters under the bed.
Reached a certain age, the brain manages to make the difference between a true and a false danger, and thus adapts its answer. Some people, in search of strong emotions, like to watch horror movies or undertake sports feats to awaken the chemical and hormonal reactions of fear. And the big scares of fear also make it possible to relativize our small daily anxieties. So do not hesitate to wear your scariest disguise tonight, to scare all passersby! But, what about people with fragile hearts?
Can fear become dangerous?
A sudden, strong emotion can lead to ventricular fibrillation in people with fragile heart health.
Halloween is synonymous with sweets, disguises, pumpkins, and ... fear. Generally, it is a "funny" fear, but can it become dangerous? Can we literally die of fear? The answer is "yes," according to an article written by Sam Benson Smith on 'Reader's digest'. In question, a hormone well known by all lovers of thrills.
Indeed, fear causes a state of severe emotional distress at the level of the body, which triggers, in turn, the reaction "fight or flight". This reaction is a very useful defense mechanism in the event of a real threat. The body is sweating, anxiety is at its highest, blood sugar is high, and heart rate is accelerating. Our reflexes are focused on survival.
The Fragile Heart
It is adrenaline that triggers all these processes, but there is only one organ that, if overloaded, can lead to sudden death. You guessed it, it's about the heart. The human body can work for a while if a kidney or liver breaks down, but when the heart stops working, the chances of getting away unscathed are very limited. Adrenaline allows calcium to enter the heart at a higher rate than usual, and the body may find it difficult to return to normal levels.
This problem can cause a condition known as ventricular fibrillation, characterized by an irregular heartbeat that prevents the blood from circulating properly to the rest of the body. Without immediate treatment, this disease can lead to death. Any very strong and sudden emotion can cause ventricular fibrillation. If you suffer from poor heart health, watching a horror film may not be a good idea tonight.
Adapt the reaction
Some of the organism's responses to fear are a legacy, now useless, of our ancestors. The fact that our hair bristles, for example, does not really make sense today, when it had to work in the days when we were covered with fur. But stopping like an animal that sees a threat, as well as the emotional mechanisms that increase our attention are always helpful. Moreover, even babies and young children show signs of fear in case of noise, movement, or in front of an unknown face, even in case of non-real threats like monsters under the bed.
Reached a certain age, the brain manages to make the difference between a true and a false danger, and thus adapts its answer. Some people, in search of strong emotions, like to watch horror movies or undertake sports feats to awaken the chemical and hormonal reactions of fear. And the big scares of fear also make it possible to relativize our small daily anxieties. So do not hesitate to wear your scariest disguise tonight, to scare all passersby! But, what about people with fragile hearts?
Can fear become dangerous?
A sudden, strong emotion can lead to ventricular fibrillation in people with fragile heart health.
Halloween is synonymous with sweets, disguises, pumpkins, and ... fear. Generally, it is a "funny" fear, but can it become dangerous? Can we literally die of fear? The answer is "yes," according to an article written by Sam Benson Smith on 'Reader's digest'. In question, a hormone well known by all lovers of thrills.
Indeed, fear causes a state of severe emotional distress at the level of the body, which triggers, in turn, the reaction "fight or flight". This reaction is a very useful defense mechanism in the event of a real threat. The body is sweating, anxiety is at its highest, blood sugar is high, and heart rate is accelerating. Our reflexes are focused on survival.
The Fragile Heart
It is adrenaline that triggers all these processes, but there is only one organ that, if overloaded, can lead to sudden death. You guessed it, it's about the heart. The human body can work for a while if a kidney or liver breaks down, but when the heart stops working, the chances of getting away unscathed are very limited. Adrenaline allows calcium to enter the heart at a higher rate than usual, and the body may find it difficult to return to normal levels.
This problem can cause a condition known as ventricular fibrillation, characterized by an irregular heartbeat that prevents the blood from circulating properly to the rest of the body. Without immediate treatment, this disease can lead to death. Any very strong and sudden emotion can cause ventricular fibrillation. If you suffer from poor heart health, watching a horror film may not be a good idea tonight.
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