The fight response

The fact is that trauma exists along a continuum of stress. Because trauma is subjective and personal, minor "t” incidents may be just as traumatic as big "T" events. Trauma, for example, might include a terrible breakup, a betrayal of trust, a work environment that is chronically abusive, or anything else that is mildly frightening over time. They may not seem serious at the time, but the long-term effects of trauma can still have a significant influence on you when they are not emotionally processed and integrated.

If a problem is left unresolved, past trauma may turn into trapped, frozen energy that your body will respond to physiologically in the form of a trauma response, one of which is the FIGHT RESPONSE.

When healthy, the fight response can allow for assertion and solid boundaries. When unhealthy—i.e., when used as a trauma response—it's an active self-preservation function where you move reactively toward conflict with anger and aggression. It's a fear state where you confront the threat to stand up and assert yourself. 

The fight response stems from the unconscious belief that gaining power and control over other people will lead to acceptance, love, and safety that you might have never gotten in childhood.

A fight response can include any action taken to stand up against a threat, not just physical fighting/slamming doors etc.

For instance:

* Making a public social media post when your partner cheats so that everyone knows what they did 

* Yelling at your friend when they do something that makes you upset 

* Spreading rumors about a coworker that you don’t like 

* Refusing to talk to your partner for a while if they’ve done something that upset you. 

Your therapist will work with you to help process the traumatic events and also educate you on what techniques work to release the fight response (recognising what’s happening, taking a step back from the situation, constructive activity to activate your parasympathetic system, yoga, deep breathing, mindfulness, routines etc.)

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