Now consider what research on the brain -- neuroscience -- says about how our brain responds when we experience threats or stress:

“We protect ourselves from threat [by going] into a ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ mode….

These reactions… cut off the use of the executive function of our brain—the part of our brain that allows us to problem-solve, plan, use language, organize, and regulate our mood—functions that scientists call ‘our success skills.’ ”