![]() ![]() It may feel like you’re constantly rushing, worrying, panicking, or micromanaging. A “flight” response can make it difficult to slow down and rest. ![]() The intent of “flight” is protection from pain through escape. To an observer, it may look like an explosive temper, angry or aggressive outbursts, bullying, and may be mislabeled as conduct disorder in children or narcissism in adults. A “fight” response may feel like a rush of adrenaline, a desire to defend ourselves and feel empowered at all costs, picking fights, or yelling at or controlling others. The goal of the “fight” is self-preservation and protection from pain through conflict. ![]() By exploring our own survival strategies, we can gain insight into how these strategies may have served to protect us in the past but are no longer useful and can be modified and healed to better suit our present. ![]() Pete Walker MA, author of “Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving,” outlines the concepts of “freeze” and “fawn” as additional survival strategies for Complex PTSD, a condition developed from long-term, repeated trauma such as childhood abuse, ongoing sexual trauma, living in war-torn areas, for example. Over time, however, this black-and-white model has been expanded to give space to additional, more nuanced responses to trauma. Many of us are familiar with the term “fight or flight,” a classic model for understanding how individuals cope differently to actual or perceived threats. ![]()
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