Why the Fight Response Is Protective (Even When It Looks Like Anger). When you feel a surge of anger, tension, or the urge to argue, shut someone down, or defend yourself, you may be experiencing the fight response. Just like flight, freeze, or fawn, fight is a natural nervous system reaction—one of the body’s built-in ways of protecting us when it senses danger or threat. Anger often gets misunderstood. It can look aggressive, harsh, or controlling on the outside—but beneath that…