What is Your Trauma Response?
“Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary. The people we trust with that important talk can help us know that we are not alone.” -Fred Rogers
From mindbodygreen.com:
A trauma response is the reflexive use of over-adaptive coping mechanisms in the real or perceived presence of a trauma event, according to trauma therapist Cynthia M.A. Siadat, LCSW. The four trauma responses most commonly recognized are fight, flight, freeze, fawn, sometimes called the 4 Fs of trauma.
"When we experience something traumatic or have been exposed to prolonged stress, it causes part of our brain, the amygdala, to go into hyperdrive where we see and feel threats in nonthreatening situations," licensed therapist Chioma Moronu, LCSW, tells mbg. "This causes us to act in ways that we don't understand and can leave us feeling like we no longer have control over ourselves. The [trauma] response is often based on what your brain thinks will help you survive the current situation."
@blitheSun94 All of them
I'm sorry - I meant to add more to this
For me it all depends on what trigger is pushed and in some instances a certain trigger can cause all of these at once. It becomes an inner battle on how to handle it
@blitheSun94
Mine is a mix of flight and freeze. As much I want to avoid all the bad or freeze by the sound of yelling I can help that I am scared when I feel threatened and all I want to do is run or stay...
"Ah, an all you can eat buffet," said my brain.
Freeze is for sure my main one, but I think it's normal for everyone to experience all at different points in different scenarios
My most recent was freeze, and I froze in a big way. Failed to see important details that would’ve gotten someone to take responsibility for their part in a tragic accident.
@blitheSun94
For me, I think my usual responses are either Flight, Freeze or Fawn.
@blitheSun94
Some combination of flight, freeze, fawn, and avoidance
@Zevia1MM
I’m so glad you mentioned avoidance as it is a major component of any semblance of recovery. Overcoming avoidance is often the very first step in beginning to process trauma work rather than simply coping without addressing the root of the distress. Most people are not even aware or willing to admit that they do that. I hope you’re doing well in your own journey.
@blitheSun94
Thank you for the kind words :)
@Zevia1MM
You're most welcome. :)
Wow! So many well thought out responses. Thank you! I can see how one would experience all of these at some point. I would have to say the classic fight/flight response is my most pervasive, although I don’t slam doors.
