What are trauma responses?

Trauma responses are the physical and emotional reactions that people have in response to a traumatic event. These reactions can include feeling scared, anxious, or angry; feeling helpless or alone; feeling numb or disconnected from others, or experiencing flashbacks or nightmares. Trauma responses are normal and can be a sign that someone is struggling to cope with a difficult experience. However, if someone is experiencing intense or long-lasting trauma responses, for more than six months it may be helpful to seek professional help.

What are the different types of trauma responses?

There are four different types of trauma responses: physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive.

• Physical responses to trauma can include changes in heart rate, breathing, and sweating; feeling tense or jumpy, or having trouble sleeping.

• Emotional responses can include feeling scared, helpless, or alone; feeling angry, guilty, or ashamed; or feeling numb or disconnected from others.

• Behavioral responses can include withdrawing from friends and family, using drugs or alcohol to cope, or engaging in risky behaviors.

• Cognitive responses can include trouble concentrating, difficulty making decisions, or negative changes in beliefs and attitudes.

It is important to remember that everyone responds to trauma differently and there is no “right” or “wrong” way to react. Some people may experience all of these responses, while others may only experience a few. There is no correct way to respond to trauma, and no one response is better than another. What matters is how someone copes with their reactions and whether they can function in their day-to-day lives. If someone is struggling to cope with their trauma responses, it may be helpful to seek professional help. A therapist can help people understand and manage their reactions, and develop healthy coping mechanisms.

What causes trauma responses?

Trauma responses are caused by exposure to a traumatic event. This can include events like natural disasters, car accidents, human-caused disasters, or violence. witnessing someone being harmed, or experiencing something that threatened your life or safety can also lead to trauma responses. Not everyone who experiences a traumatic event will have trauma responses. It is thought that some people are more likely to develop trauma responses if they have a history of trauma, if the event was particularly severe, or if they do not have a support system to help them cope.

Common behavioral manifestations responses to trauma

Fight: Controlling behavior, Angry Outbursts or tantrums, and Explosive behavior.

Flight: Workaholic, Anxiety PTSD, OCD, and Perfectionist.

Freeze: Difficulty making decisions, dissociation, isolation, and numbness.

Fawn: People Pleasing, Lack of or no boundaries, Lack of Identity, overwhelmed, codependency, Self-blame, and feeling responsible.

What part of the brain controls our responses to trauma?

The amygdala is the part of the brain that controls our responses to trauma. The amygdala is responsible for our fight-or-flight response, which is our body's natural response to danger. When we are exposed to a traumatic event, the amygdala sends out a signal to the rest of the body to prepare for danger. This response includes increased heart rate, sweating, and breathing; feeling tense or jumpy, or having trouble sleeping.

Do we get to decide what our trauma responses are?

No, we do not get to decide what our trauma responses are. Trauma responses are a natural reaction to a traumatic event, and they are controlled by the amygdala. This means you have no control over how you are going to respond to trauma, your amygdala. The amygdala is the first part of the brain that is turned on when you are born and responsible for your survival. Unfortunately, your amygdala was not designed to care about your feelings or mental health, your amygdala was designed to keep you safe and alive.

What are maladaptive responses to trauma?

Maladaptive responses to trauma are responses that do not help us cope with the event, and can make our situation worse. Maladaptive responses are those that do not help us cope at the moment and can make our situation worse. For example, if we are in danger and we respond by freezing or fawning, this may put us in more danger. There is no sure way to prevent trauma responses. However, some things may help. Creating a support system of friends, family, or therapists can provide a sense of safety and security.

What is a trauma response fight and how does it work?

Fight is a normal trauma response and reaction when the amygdala is triggered. This response is controlled by the amygdala, and it is a survival mechanism. This is a natural, physical response that is designed to help us protect ourselves from danger. When we are in danger, the amygdala trigger's our fight response, which causes an increase in heart rate, sweating, and breathing; feeling tense or jumpy, or having trouble sleeping. The fight response is a survival mechanism that is meant to help us protect ourselves from harm.

When does fight become a maladaptive response?

Fight becomes a maladaptive response when it is used in situations that are not dangerous, or when it is used in a way that is harmful to yourself or others. For example, if you have an angry outburst at work because your boss asks you to do something you don't want to do, this would be an example of a maladaptive fight response. If you find yourself using violence or threats of violence to get what you want, this is also an example of a maladaptive fight response. If you are struggling to control your anger and it is impacting your relationships or job, it may be time to seek professional help.

What are common symptoms of trauma responses flight?

Flight is also a normal trauma response and reaction when the amygdala is triggered due to a perceived threat. This response is also controlled by the amygdala, and it is a survival mechanism. The flight response is a natural, physical response that is designed to help us protect ourselves from danger. When we are in danger, the amygdala triggers our flight response, which causes us to flee or avoid the situation. The flight response is a survival mechanism that is meant to help us protect ourselves from harm.

When does flight become a maladaptive response?

Flight becomes a maladaptive response when it is used in situations that are not dangerous, or when it is used in a way that is harmful to yourself or others. For example, if you avoid going to work because you are afraid of your boss, this would be an example of a maladaptive flight response. If you find yourself avoiding social situations or places that make you feel uncomfortable, this is also an example of a maladaptive flight response. If you are struggling to control your anxiety and it is impacting your relationships or job, it may be time to seek professional help.

What are the common trauma responses to flights?

One of the most common trauma responses to flight is perfectionism. Perfectionism is the need to control everything in one's environment to feel safe. Perfectionists often have high standards for themselves and others. This means that you are always trying to be perfect, and you are never satisfied with your work. You may be extremely critical of yourself, and you may feel like you are never good enough. Perfectionism is a maladaptive response to trauma as a way to avoid and protect yourself from criticism and judgment. Perfectionism is a way to avoid feeling the pain of trauma. By controlling everything, perfectionist feels that they can avoid feeling any more pain. However, this often leads to burnout and further re-traumatization. If you find yourself struggling with perfectionism, it may be time to seek professional help. Another common trauma response is avoidance. This means that you avoid anything that may remind you of the trauma. You may avoid people, places, things, thoughts, or emotions that remind you of the trauma. Avoidance is a way to protect yourself from being re-traumatized. They may be workaholics or need to be in control. They may also have difficulty delegating tasks.

What are common trauma responses of freeze?

Freeze is a complex maladaptive trauma response. Freeze is when the amygdala sends a signal to the body to shut down. This can happen when someone is overwhelmed by the event or feels like they cannot escape. When someone freezes, they may feel numb, disconnected, or dissociative. They may have trouble making decisions or feel stuck. Freezing can also look like isolation or avoidance. Someone who is frozen may withdraw from friends and family, stop participating in activities they enjoy, or become shut-in. In severe cases such as rape or torture, victims may develop a condition called tonic immobility. Tonic immobility is a state of paralysis that can be induced by fear. Victims in this state may be unable to move or speak. Tonic immobility happens when the amygdala sends a signal to the body that it is too overwhelmed to cope, and the only way to survive is to shut down.

What are the common symptoms of trauma responses fawn?

Fawning is a complex maladaptive trauma response. It is a coping mechanism that survivors develop to appease their abusers. People pleasing is the most common trauma response of fawn. People-pleasing-seeking behavior developed as a response to avoid conflict with their abuser and to establish a sense of security. Fawning usually develops in childhood and becomes the main way in which they navigate all their relationship in adulthood. As an adult, they will look to others to see how they "should feel" in a relationship or situation because, they struggle to identify their feelings, and are uncertain if it is okay to even have an emotion. They consistently try to please others through flattery, affection, gift-giving, acts of service, or giving into their every demand. Whenever someone becomes angry at them, they will do anything to appease them, even if it means agreeing or doing something you do not wish to do. They lack identity and find themselves questioning their own belief, values, needs, and their feelings and struggle to maintain healthy boundaries and relationships.

Is fawn the same as Stockholm syndrome?

Fawning is a trauma response that survivors develop to cope with their abusers. It is not the same as Stockholm syndrome, It is different because fawning is a coping mechanism developed that is specially used to appease the abuser to keep them out of danger, while Stockholm syndrome is a condition where the hostage or abuse victim begins to identify with, develop feelings for, and bond with their abuser. They often develop a strong loyalty to their abuser, even though, it is mentally damaging and keeps them in danger.

How can a trauma counselor help me address trauma responses?

A trauma counselor can help you address your trauma responses in several ways. They can provide support and guidance as you work through your experiences. They can also help you understand your reactions and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Counselors can also provide referrals to other resources, such as support groups or therapy if needed. If you are struggling with unresolved trauma, seeking professional help can make a world of difference.