03/10/2025
🌸Understanding Trauma Responses:
Why We React the Way We Do Trauma is not just about what happens to us—it's about how our mind and body respond to it. The four primary trauma responses—Flight, Fight, Freeze, and Fawn—are survival mechanisms developed in response to stress, danger, or emotional wounds.
🛫 FLIGHT: When avoidance feels like safety
Individuals with a flight response often cope by staying busy, being perfectionists, or avoiding confrontation. This can look like workaholism, anxiety, OCD, hyperactivity, or overthinking. While productivity may seem like a positive outcome, it often comes at the cost of emotional well-being.
⚔️ FIGHT – When control feels like survival
The fight response manifests as anger, irritability, and a need to control situations or people. Those with this response may lash out, engage in self-destructive behaviors, or struggle with judgment and impulsivity. While standing up for oneself is healthy, unresolved trauma can lead to aggression or dominance in relationships.
❄️ FREEZE – When shutting down feels like the only option
The freeze response often presents as dissociation, numbness, isolation, and difficulty making decisions. When overwhelmed, the nervous system shuts down to protect itself. This may lead to procrastination, exhaustion, and a feeling of being "stuck" in life.
🤝 FAWN – When people-pleasing becomes a coping mechanism
The fawn response is when individuals prioritize others’ needs over their own to avoid conflict. This can look like being overly accommodating, lacking boundaries, or struggling with self-identity. While kindness is a strength, excessive people-pleasing can lead to emotional exhaustion.
đź’ˇ Healing from Trauma
Recognizing our trauma responses is the first step toward healing and self-awareness. Therapy, mindfulness, and self-compassion can help us retrain our nervous system and develop healthier coping mechanisms.🌸
