As we move through life, most of the time, we are within a safe range of arousal, which means a state where we can function well as human beings. We can self-regulate, feel grounded and present, and the reasoning part …
Tag: flight fight freeze
![7 Tips for Healing the Fight Trauma Response](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1-2-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
7 Tips for Healing the Fight Trauma Response
The fight response is my ‘go to’ trauma response. Over the years it has kept me safe AND got me into trouble a few times. We all have a ‘go to’ trauma response. Given the situation we found ourselves in …
![The Fight Response](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/11_10_2021_The-Fight-Response-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
The Fight Response
When others find you aggressive, it might be because you have gone into a ‘fight’ trauma response. Remember that all of the trauma responses are the body’s natural response to danger or stress. It causes a flood of hormones so …
![How the Flight Trauma Response Can Show Up In An Argument You want to leave the room and RUN. You might make yourself stay, but every part of you is screaming to get away. You might start fantasising about leaving the relationship and even threaten to leave the relationship. You find yourself looking for an escape route, and your eyes start to dart around. You stop listening to your partner because your sympathetic nervous system has taken over, and the thinking brain has switched off. Your mind is racing. Thoughts don’t seem to be connected logically. You feel jumpy. When they move their hand, you think they are going to lash out at you. In the moment, you are not aware of your body.](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1-1-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
How the Flight Trauma Response Can Show Up In An Argument
When we are in conflict, it is easy to be triggered into an automatic trauma response. Why? Maybe our partner is triggering a flashback to an old situation Maybe their tone of voice feels threatening Maybe the way they gestured …
![The Flight Response Anxiety, fear and panic Chronic worry Workaholic Perfectionism Over-achiever Startles easily Hyper-vigilant Eyes dart around Excessive exercising Racing thoughts Jumpy or fidgeting Difficult to slow down Difficult to connect to the body](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/07_09_2021_The-Flight-Response-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
The Flight Response
The flight response happens when we encounter something stressful, and our sympathetic nervous system takes over and tells us to RUN! This was great when tigers were chasing us, but how do we manage this when the danger is a …
![6 ideas to unfreeze](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/1-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
6 Ideas to Unfreeze
I wanted to share a few ideas of things that might help when you feel you have gone into a freeze response. The freeze response occurs on a continuum, one day, something might happen, and you feel a little numb, …
![When the Freeze Response is Chronic, It Is Related to Depression.](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/04_09_2021_When-the-Freeze-Response-is-Chronic-It-Is-Related-to-Depression.-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
When the Freeze Response is Chronic, It Is Related to Depression.
Your automatic response in any stressful situation will be the one that your autonomic nervous system found most effective in the past. The freeze response takes over when we cannot fight or run away from the situation, and it is …
![When your defence mechanism is to freeze, you might feel anger, shame or confusion about why you didn’t run, scream or answer back. Freeze is NOT a decision - it is a trauma response.](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/03_09_2021_When-Your-Defence-Mechanism-Is-to-Freeze-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
When Your Defence Mechanism Is to Freeze
You make sense. I hear so many people feeling confused about their response to a stressful situation. Asking for years: “Why didn’t I scream?” “Why didn’t I run?” “Why didn’t I kick?” “Was I being complicit?” NO, NO, NO, NO!!!! …
![The Freeze Trauma Response Immobility and numbness Shutdown or feeling stuck in a part of the body Feeling frozen, cannot move Holding breath/restricted breathing Deer in headlights Heavy limbs Eyes are still Hyper aware of body Sense of dread](https://i0.wp.com/cdn1.jennynurick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/02_09_2021_The-Freeze-Trauma-Response-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=650%2C650&ssl=1)
The Freeze Trauma Response
The freeze response is an INVOLUNTARY physiological change in your body and mind when you feel threatened. In a split second, we have established that we can’t run (flight) or defend ourselves (fight), so we freeze. Freezing allows us NOT …
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What is the Window of Tolerance?
The widow of tolerance is a phrase first used by Dr. Dan Siegel to describe the arousal state in which a person can best function, where they feel they can manage life. When you are within the window of tolerance, …