Welcome to the Commune podcast. My name is Jeff Krasnow. Many of you may receive my weekly

Sunday commusing article, where I address a breadth of issues from the spiritual to the physiological

to sometimes the sociopolitical. And on occasion, I will also record

an audio version of these articles and release it here as a bonus episode. So today's

musing untangles normal adaptive responses to stress from emotional disregulating stress. It's titled, Taming Your Inner

Coyote. Last week, I went for a hike in Freiman Canyon. I often do this to clear my head

prior to conducting a podcast interview. And then my mom called.

I was pining for some peace, but I have a new rule.

When anyone in my family calls, I pick up, even if my time is limited.

So I answered, and my dear old mom began prattling on with stories about her life.

I kept walking and she kept talking.

The narrow serpentine hiking trail snakes along the side of a steep grate of chaparral.

As I looped back toward home, I heard a rustling in the bramble, and then quite suddenly a coyote

bounded out of the thicket and plunked it to the middle of the trail, some ten yards in front of me.

He fixed his eyes on me intently. Startled, I stopped in my tracks. I hung up the phone. My heart

began pounding. I felt a surge of adrenaline

course through my veins. My lungs pumped. My eyes focused. Underneath the crust of consciousness,

my adrenals were secreting cortisol that in turn messaged my liver to release glucose

to power my muscles in order to flee or fight.

But I didn't take flight.

I just stood my ground.

The coyote paused momentarily, and realizing that I would not be lunch,

...