Fear & Safety

Primary Body Region: Feet, legs, pelvic floor

Key Systems Involved:

• Sympathetic nervous system: Activates the body to respond to threat (“fight or flight”)

• Adrenal glands: Produce stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol

• Psoas muscle: Deep core muscle activated in fear and trauma

• Proprioceptive system: Our sense of body position in space, vital for grounding

Theory

Fear is the body’s natural response to perceived danger. When we feel unsafe, our sympathetic nervous system kicks in—speeding up the heart, preparing muscles to act, and directing blood to the legs so we can run. This is often called the fight-or-flight response.

The adrenal glands, which sit on top of the kidneys, release stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. These make us more alert but also tense and rigid if the fear doesn’t resolve.

The psoas muscle—located deep in the lower abdomen—is often called the “fight-or-flight muscle” because it contracts when we’re afraid. Chronic fear can cause this muscle to stay tight, making us feel restless or frozen.

When we connect with the legs and feet, we stimulate the proprioceptive system, which helps us feel where we are in space and reestablishes a basic sense of physical and emotional safety.