A Beginners Guide To Anxiety

The fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses are instinctual reactions to stress and danger. They are survival mechanisms that help us respond to perceived threats.

1. Fight Response:

What It Is: The urge to confront and combat the threat.

Symptoms: Anger, irritability, clenched fists, and an increased heart rate.

Solutions: Practice grounding techniques to channel energy positively.

2. Flight Response:

What It Is: The impulse to escape the situation.

Symptoms: Restlessness, excessive exercise, avoidance behavior.

Solutions: Mindful breathing exercises to reduce the urge to flee.

3. Freeze Response:

What It Is: Feeling stuck or unable to act.

Symptoms: Numbness, dissociation, difficulty making decisions.

Solutions: Grounding techniques, like focusing on your senses, can help regain control.

4. Fawn Response:

What It Is: The tendency to appease or please to avoid conflict.

Symptoms: People-pleasing, difficulty saying no, lack of boundaries.

Solutions: Building self-awareness and practicing assertiveness can help reduce the fawn response.

Understanding your natural response to anxiety can empower you to manage it more effectively. Whether you tend to fight, flee, freeze, or fawn, recognizing these patterns and implementing strategies to address them is crucial for your mental well-being. If these responses are impacting your life, consider reaching out to a therapist for personalized support.