In dangerous situations, the subconscious mind makes decisions on its own through the nervous system. When a person feels ashamed or embarrassed, it’s an extreme situation for the body. Adrenaline—a hormone that kicks in—takes an active role in determining whether to “fight or flight.”
When we’re anxious, we adopt a defensive posture, as if protecting ourselves. It is adrenaline that prepares the body to overcome danger: it increases the heart rate, quickens breathing, and dilates the pupils to take in as much visual information as possible.
Adrenaline slows down the digestive process, so energy is directed to the muscles, where blood vessels dilate and the flow of blood and oxygen accelerates, reaching every part of the body more quickly.