Hillbilly Elegy

after all, is triggered by a physiological
reaction. It’s the consequence of
adrenaline and other hormones flooding
our system, usually in response to some
kind of stimulus. This is the classic
fight-or-flight response that we learn
about in grade school. It sometimes
produces incredible feats of strength and
bravery from ordinary people. It’s how
mothers can lift heavy objects when their
children are trapped underneath, and
how an unarmed elderly woman can
fight off a mountain lion with her bare
hands to save her husband.
Unfortunately, the fight-or-flight
response is a destructive constant
companion. As Dr. Nadine Burke Harris