Trauma can affect the way we think, feel, and behave, often in ways that are hard to understand. If you’re dealing with trauma yourself, it can leave you feeling confused and isolated. If you’re supporting someone else, it may be difficult to know how to help.
In this post, we’ll define what a trauma response is, explore examples of trauma responses, and offer insight to help you better understand trauma response behaviors in yourself or a loved one.
What Are Trauma Responses?
Trauma responses are the ways our bodies and minds react to experiences that are frightening, dangerous, or deeply upsetting. When something traumatic happens, our natural survival instincts kick in to help us cope with the danger or stress.
These reactions can show up in many different ways, depending on the person and the situation. Understanding trauma responses helps us recognize how people react to stress or danger, helping us be more supportive when someone is dealing with the aftereffects of trauma.
Types of Trauma Responses
There are four types of immediate trauma responses: fight, flight, fawn, and freeze. These responses happen right away, while the fifth type — delayed trauma responses — occurs later on as the body and mind process the trauma over time.
These responses are all part of how we try to protect ourselves or make sense of a traumatic experience.
1. Fight
The fight response happens when a person feels they need to confront or push back against the threat. It’s a survival instinct that kicks in when a person believes they need to defend themselves.
After the trauma, the fight response can show up in different ways, such as:
- Irritability or anger, even in situations that don’t seem to warrant it.
- Outbursts of rage or aggression toward others.
- Hypervigilance, constantly feeling on edge or ready to “attack” any perceived threat.
- Difficulty trusting people, feeling the need to control situations or people around them.
- Constantly feeling like they have to fight for their space or voice, even in safe environments.
2. Flight
The flight response happens when a person feels the need to escape from danger. It’s about running away from the threat or avoiding it altogether.
After trauma, flight responses can look like:
- Avoidance of people, places, or situations that might remind them of the trauma.
- Running away from emotions by numbing out or distracting themselves (through work, substances, or excessive busyness).
- Constantly feeling the urge to leave, whether it’s relationships, jobs, or other commitments.
- Fear of being trapped or stuck in one place, even in non-threatening situations.
- Restlessness or anxiety, always feeling like they need to get away.
3. Fawn
The fawn response happens when a person tries to please or appease others to avoid conflict or harm. It’s a coping mechanism for survival in situations where a person feels powerless. Fawn responses after trauma can include:
- People-pleasing behaviors, doing whatever it takes to keep others happy or avoid conflict.
- Difficulty saying “no”, even when it’s in their best interest.
- Suppressing their own needs to meet the needs of others.
- Over-apologizing or taking responsibility for things that aren’t their fault.
- Feeling responsible for others’ emotions, often at the cost of their own mental health.
4. Freeze
The freeze response is when the body “shuts down” in the face of overwhelming stress, making the person feel immobilized or stuck. It’s a natural defense mechanism when neither fight nor flight seems possible.
After trauma, freeze responses can show up as:
- Emotional numbness, feeling disconnected or unable to feel emotions at all.
- Difficulty making decisions, feeling paralyzed by fear or indecision.
- A sense of being stuck, unable to move forward in life or make changes.
- Shutting down or dissociating when faced with stress, not being able to engage with what’s happening around them.
- A sense of detachment from reality, feeling like things aren’t real or like they’re watching life from the outside.
5. Delayed Trauma Responses
Delayed trauma responses are different from the typical fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses, which appear immediately. They occur later when the body and mind begin to process what happened, often in ways that weren’t noticeable right after the traumatic event.
Delayed trauma responses can include things like:
- Intrusive thoughts or flashbacks about the traumatic event, sometimes without warning.
- Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected from reality.
- Depression, anxiety, or panic attacks that seem to come out of nowhere.
- Relationship difficulties or issues with trust and intimacy.
- Avoidance of situations that remind the person of the trauma, even if they aren’t consciously aware of it.
Can You Experience All Types of Trauma Responses at Once?
It’s possible to experience more than one type of trauma response at once, but not everyone will go through all of them. You’re not guaranteed to experience every type of trauma response, but it’s common to go through a combination of them at different points.
People might respond to trauma differently depending on their personality, past experiences, and the situation itself. Some might mainly react with one response, while others may experience a mix of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reactions, or even delayed responses.
It can change over time, too; someone might respond with one type of reaction right after the trauma but later have a different kind of response as they process what happened.
How Can Childhood Trauma Responses Show Up in Adults?
Adults who experienced trauma as children may find that their reactions to stress are more intense or out of proportion. Childhood trauma responses in adults are often learned coping mechanisms that can have the following long-term effects:
1. Difficulty with Emotional Regulation
Adults who experienced childhood trauma may struggle to manage intense emotions like anger, sadness, or fear. This could manifest as sudden emotional outbursts or feeling overwhelmed by feelings that seem disproportionate to the situation.
2. People-Pleasing (Fawning)
Adults who grew up in environments where they constantly tried to gain approval or avoid conflict may develop a people-pleasing behavior pattern. This can lead to difficulty setting boundaries, suppressing their own needs, or feeling responsible for others’ feelings.
3. Fear of Abandonment
Those with childhood trauma may have experienced neglect or inconsistent caregiving, which can lead to a fear of abandonment in adulthood. This can result in anxiety in relationships, a tendency to hold onto unhealthy relationships, or feeling overly dependent on others for emotional support.
4. Low Self-Worth
Childhood trauma, especially neglect or emotional abuse, can lead to lasting feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness. Adults may struggle with self-esteem, feeling undeserving of love, success, or happiness, and may have difficulty trusting that others will treat them with respect.
5. Hypervigilance
People with childhood trauma might remain in a constant state of alertness, anticipating danger even when they’re in safe environments. This hypervigilance can show up as anxiety, restlessness, or an overactive need to control situations.
6. Dissociation
Dissociation is a common coping mechanism for childhood trauma. It can look like feeling detached from one’s emotions, thoughts, or even physical surroundings. As an adult, dissociation can result in memory gaps, feeling like life is “unreal,” or difficulty staying grounded in the present moment.
Start Healing From Trauma Here
Have more questions about the ways adults react to traumatic events? Talk to the professionals at Northpoint Colorado. With our help, you can gain a more detailed understanding of potential adult responses.
At Northpoint, we offer a wide range of secondary support options for adults in substance recovery. These options include comprehensive trauma therapy services, which can be added to any of our customized treatment plans.
Contact us today to learn more and start on a path to lasting recovery.