Four Bodily Responses to Stress
Transparency: most of this post was curated by the AI that I "created" on Instagram:
https://aistudio.instagram.com/ai/530149339491590/?utm_source=mshare
These are four different bodily reactions to stress.
FIGHT
Your body prepares to confront the stressor head-on. Adrenaline surges, heart rate increases, and muscles tense.
FLIGHT
Your body readies itself to flee from the stressor. Adrenaline spikes, heart rate accelerates, and muscles contract for rapid movement.
FREEZE
Your body becomes immobile, unable to respond to the stressor. Heart rate slows, breathing becomes shallow, and muscles lock up.
FAWN
Your body attempts to appease the stressor, hoping to avoid conflict. Oxytocin levels rise, promoting feelings of attachment and submission.
These responses are innate and automatic, helping you cope with stress in the short term. However, chronic stress can lead to prolonged activation of these responses, causing harm to your physical and mental well-being.
Let’s break down each one.
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FIGHT
Someone with a fight body reaction to stress may exhibit the following behaviors:
Aggression: They become confrontational, hostile, or violent when faced with stress.
Defensiveness: They become overly protective of themselves or their ideas, leading to argumentativeness.
Competitiveness: They view stress as a challenge to be overcome, becoming overly competitive or critical.
Dominance: They attempt to control or dominate others, asserting their power over stressful situations.
Sarcasm or passive-aggression: They express stress through indirect aggression, such as eye-rolling or backhanded comments.
Impulsivity: They act impulsively, leaping into action without considering consequences.
Anger outbursts: They experience intense, uncontrolled anger in response to stress.
Belligerence: They become pugnacious, seeking conflict or picking fights with others.
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FLIGHT
Someone with a flight body reaction to stress may exhibit the following behaviors:
Avoidance: They flee from stressful situations or emotions, hoping to escape the stress response.
Procrastination: They delay tasks or decisions, avoiding stress by putting things off until later.
Distraction: They divert their attention away from stressors, focusing on other activities or substances.
Escape into addiction: They use substances or behaviors as a coping mechanism, escaping stress temporarily.
Restlessness: They become agitated, pacing, or fidgeting, unable to sit still or relax.
Rapid speech or movements: They talk or move quickly, trying to outrun stress.
Easily startled: They become jumpy or easily startled, exhibiting an exaggerated startle response.
Difficulty relaxing: They struggle to unwind or relax, remaining in a state of hypervigilance.
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FREEZE
Someone with a freeze body reaction to stress may exhibit the following behaviors:
Immobilization: They become physically or emotionally paralyzed, unable to move or respond.
Dissociation: They disconnect from their body or emotions, feeling numb or detached.
Avoidance: They evade stressful situations or emotions, hoping to escape the freeze response.
Rigidity: They become inflexible, struggling to adapt to changing circumstances.
Lack of emotional expression: They suppress emotions, appearing stoic or unresponsive.
Physical tension: They exhibit physical stiffness, such as clenched fists or a tight jaw.
Difficulty with decision-making: They struggle to make choices, feeling overwhelmed by options.
Emotional numbness: They feel disconnected from their emotions, unable to access or express feelings.
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FAWN
Someone with a fawn body reaction to stress may exhibit the following behaviors:
People-pleasing: They prioritize others' needs over their own, sacrificing boundaries and autonomy.
Avoidance: They shy away from conflict or stressful situations, hoping to avoid confrontation.
Passivity: They become overly submissive, failing to assert themselves or express their needs.
Over-accommodation: They take on too much responsibility, overextending themselves to avoid stress.
Self-sacrifice: They put others' needs before their own, neglecting self-care and personal desires.
Inability to say no: They struggle with setting boundaries, leading to emotional exhaustion.
Excessive emotional labor: They invest too much emotional energy in others, draining their own emotional resources.
Tendency to internalize: They blame themselves for external stressors, leading to self-doubt and low self-esteem.
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You might find yourself relating to more than one type, dependent on the situation that is stressful. You might have memories of things that you did as a child, which contribute to your behavior is today.
I will always disclaim that when it comes to learning about psychology aspects, to avoid attempting a full-blown self-diagnosis. It is beneficial to have a basic understanding, as this may give you comfort to be able to relate to something, and get the wheels turning on how better yourself.
Everyone is unique and has their own story, so there is not a "one size fits all," but there are observable patterns and behavior that can be taken into consideration. Learning about these patterns may assist in gaining clarity on how to interact with all relationships. These definitions can help you as you continue to work on yourself, and level-up, year after year.