The Four Responses to Trauma

Trauma.

The concept of trauma, the word itself Greek, derives from the word ‘wound’ and ‘pierce’. Trauma, whether a one-time event, multiple, or long-lasting events that are repetitive can affect people differently.

Our bodies and our minds automatically go into a stress response mode when it perceives a threat in our environment. These responses allow us to respond to threats quickly and seek safety. However people who have experienced prolonged trauma or abuse end up being stuck in different stress response modes as they feel that the threat never completely went away.

When one experiences trauma, two brain regions, the amygdala and prefrontal cortex are activated. The amygdala itself is located in the temporal lobe, it’s function is to detect threats, activate the fight/flight response, and activate the sympathetic nervous system to help you manage this threat. The prefrontal cortex on the other hand, is located in the frontal lobe. This part of the brain helps you to regulate your emotions and regulate your attention and your awareness. The amygdala releases adrenaline, glucose and norepinephrine during the fight or flight response and if the threat persists, then the amygdala sends a message to the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to release cortisol.

As a result, the prefrontal cortex becomes impaired, unable to regulate the threat response because the amygdala has reacted strongly. When the amygdala is in an overactive mode, more norepinephrine is released in response to the threat and excess norepinephrine is not well regulated by the prefrontal cortex.

So there are three trauma responses and most recently a fourth trauma response called ‘fawn’ was discovered by Pete Walker, a licensed marriage and family therapist and a C-PTSD survivor.

Fight

The fight response can manifest as hands in fists, a desire to punch something, a desire to kick, smash or stomp, feelings of rage and a use of metaphors like ‘volcanoes erupting’. People who operate within the fight response may perhaps have a belief that power and control will provide safety.

Flight

The flight response can manifest as restlessness, feeling trapped, tense or anxiety. People who operate within the flight response may have an unconscious belief that by being ‘perfect’ this will make them feel safe and loveable.

Freeze

The freeze response can manifest as feeling numb, cold, hiding, feeling stuck somewhere in your body, a sense of heaviness or a sense of dread. People who operate within the freeze response may have a belief that people + danger are the same thing and that being in solitude is safer.

Fawn

The fawn response is a newly discovered response and its essentially ‘people-pleasing’. This type of response can manifest as being unable to say how you really feel or think, people pleasing, flattering others, putting other people’s need above your own and feeling taken advantage of.