But I get so scared; the fight to control myself feels so real. Why? Another reason why thoughts can feel like impulses is because of the fear the thought provokes. Here is how it works: When we are startled or surprised, or when something happens that tricks us into thinking there is danger, the alarm system part of our brain called the amygdala sends out a danger signal. It instantly makes many things happen in the body that enable us to run away or fight if there were a real danger. You may know this reaction as the fight-or-flight response.
