Flight: A trauma response

Описание: Recently, I took my fluffy but fierce little dog to the dog park. On this particular day, he got into a skirmish with a massive unleashed dog. It was intense, and I had to physically rescue my little furball from the jaws of this larger dog. My heart was racing, my kids were there, and the whole situation felt like an eternity. In those milliseconds, all I could think about was getting to the safety of my car as quickly as possible. That's a classic example of the flight response, right? You want your loved ones and yourself safe as soon as possible.

But here's the thing - the flight response can also manifest in more chronic, non-life-threatening situations. And recognizing it can be tricky. Let's talk about it.

The flight response. You know, it's one of those four F's - fight, flight, freeze, and fun. But I'd like to peel back the layers and reveal how it can manifest in ways that don't necessarily involve running from a wild animal. These trauma responses can be deeply woven into our lives, and without understanding them, we might unknowingly live in a trauma response for years, trying less effective strategies to manage it.

Trauma responses are essentially coping mechanisms that our brain and body develop to keep us safe in dangerous situations. However, when you're dealing with chronic PTSD, these responses can persist long after the danger has passed. So, it's essential to learn how to regulate your nervous system and move past these coping mechanisms designed for imminent danger.

Imagine this: you're not fleeing from a wild animal, but instead, you're trying to outrun internal discomfort - the triggers. For those who've experienced trauma, certain things trigger those past painful memories. It could be something as seemingly harmless as a balloon popping or someone making a critical remark. To avoid these triggers, you might try to "outrun" them. It's another form of the flight response and can manifest as compulsive productivity.

Think about it - when you feel this compulsive need to achieve something, like getting more degrees, a raise, or a better job, but it's not about genuine personal growth; it's a compulsion to escape inner discomfort. That's when it gets interesting. You're constantly striving for something, not because it makes you feel fulfilled, but because you're trying to avoid a nagging feeling of inadequacy.

And here's the kicker - it's not just about the outcome; it's about the perpetual striving itself. It's like thinking, "If I achieve this, I'll finally be okay." But it's the striving itself that's the trauma response. It's like you're running from something inside you that tells you you're not good enough unless you keep going. It's a perpetual race to avoid that discomfort.

You see, I used to be all about the motivational, inspirational, "be your best self" stuff, but I've realized that it often involves bypassing the real issues. It's about distracting and dissociating instead of facing what's going on inside. True healing means confronting that dark, uncomfortable cellar of emotions. It's not always a smooth journey, but it's where genuine safety lies.

Flight isn't about what you're striving for; it's about why you're striving. It's about that compulsion to keep going, to keep achieving, to keep running from what's inside. And recognizing it is the first step towards healing.

Recommended resources:
Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
Pete Walker https://pete-walker.com/complex_ptsd_...

Mark Vicente's Podcast:    • The 4th "F" (FAWNING) with Dr. Ingrid Clayton   The 4th "F" (FAWNING) with Dr. Ingrid Clayton