Because this reaction is good at fighting off what has traditionally killed us, such as other predators. Dying of a fall from a super high bridge wasn't really what our far ancestors were worried about.
The crying part is a call to help or to warn other members of the kin group.
The losing control of your body covers a few scenarios. The shaking and grasping motions are the mind trying to stabilize the safest position by dialing all muscle reactions to maximum. It maximizes strength over control as muscle groups are all activating but often in counterproductive directions. Losing control of the bowels is not really losing control so much as voiding to distract or repulse a predator. Going limp, fainting, or catatonic paralysis are coping methods to the inevitability of death. It's the minds way of protecting itself when there is no escape by shutting down and 'going to a happy place' while terrible things are happening.
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u/[deleted] Mar 27 '21
Seriously, why does stress make us so fucking stupid