When you feel overwhelmed, unsafe, or triggered, your nervous system steps in automatically. Most of us have heard of Fight or Flight, but did you know there are actually 5 common survival responses?

These aren’t conscious choices — they’re your body’s way of keeping you safe.

Here’s what they look like in real life:

🔺 Fight
You get defensive, emotional, maybe even confrontational. You push back, raise your voice, or try to regain control.

🏃‍♀️ Flight
You avoid. You keep yourself busy, overthink, or feel anxious. You might leave conversations or situations altogether.

❄️ Freeze
You go still. Your mind goes blank, your body slows down, and you feel disconnected or stuck.

🤝 Fawn
You people-please. You try to smooth things over, ignore your own needs, or over-care for others to avoid conflict.

🪫 Flop
You shut down. You might feel numb, helpless, or like you’ve mentally “checked out.”

🧠 None of these reactions mean you're weak.
They mean your nervous system is doing exactly what it was built to do: protect you.

Understanding your response is the first step in learning how to support yourself when it happens.

💬 Have you noticed one of these patterns in yourself? What helps you come back to safety and regulation?

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