I really enjoyed reading this story. It is so on the money about the interplay of neurological and adrenal systems. I have experienced the effect that stress has on me over and over again. It can take me some time ot recouperate from a stressful period. I agree to that it is important to practice calming oneself and try to counteract the fight of flight response.
I think it's possible that this feeling of being under seige may have started in childhood as a response to a perceived threatening environment .It may be that that experience set the stage and an outside force be it toxin or virus created a "perfect storm".
Thank you so much for so much information!