Julia Schafer Therapy

Understanding Trauma Responses: The Four “F” Mechanisms

Picture of by Julia Schafer

by Julia Schafer

Trauma can result from a number of experiences, such as natural disasters, childhood abuse, domestic violence, war, and other frightening situations.
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These diverse sources of trauma can trigger a wide spectrum of responses in individuals. The uncertainty, fear, and emotional turmoil associated with these events can lead people to grapple with heightened stress and anxiety. To better understand these trauma responses, let’s explore the four primary survival mechanisms collectively known as the four “F’s”: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn, which individuals might turn to when faced with such struggles.

The Fight Trauma Response

The fight response is a natural reaction to perceived threats. In healthy situations, it helps individuals establish boundaries, be assertive, and protect themselves when necessary. For example, standing up to an abusive person is a healthy expression of the fight response. However, prolonged exposure to trauma can turn the fight response into an unhealthy coping mechanism. People may constantly feel on high alert, leading to controlling behaviors, narcissistic tendencies, bullying, and perfectionism. They might even direct this anger inward, harboring self-destructive thoughts.

The Flight Trauma Response


When the threat seems overwhelming, individuals may resort to the flight response, seeking to escape the situation. In healthy situations, this can involve disengaging from harmful conversations, leaving unhealthy relationships, or removing oneself from physically dangerous situations. However, when trauma is involved, an unhealthy flight response can manifest as obsessive or compulsive tendencies, excessive busyness, panic, perfectionism, or an inability to step out of one’s comfort zone. Individuals may continually perceive everything as a danger, leading to chronic anxiety.

The Freeze Trauma Response

The freeze response is when individuals become still, like “playing dead” in nature, to avoid threats. In its healthy form, the freeze response can lead to mindfulness, full presence in the moment, and awareness. However, trauma can turn this response into an unhealthy coping mechanism. Individuals may become emotionally detached, dissociated, frequently “zone out,” experience brain fog, and struggle with decision-making. They might fear that the danger will persist if they “thaw” from this state.

The Fawn Trauma Response


Fawning, the least-known trauma response, often involves people-pleasing behavior. In some contexts, this can be productive, like when someone offers support to defuse a situation. However, an unhealthy fawn response can lead to self-neglect, codependency, and a loss of personal agency. Individuals might suppress their own needs, stay in abusive relationships, or lack boundaries.

Recognizing these responses, whether fight, flight, freeze, or fawn, is the first step towards healing and changing behavioral patterns. Understanding that these behaviors may have been learned as survival mechanisms is also crucial. Therapy can be a powerful tool for reshaping these patterns, allowing individuals to respond to stressors more effectively. Working with a therapist can help individuals develop healthier coping strategies, establish boundaries, and nurture self-compassion and assertiveness. Remember, healing is possible, and there’s hope on the journey towards recovery!

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Picture of Julia Schafer

Julia Schafer

When I was a kid, I wanted to be an author when I grew up. The characters I encountered in books deeply resonated with me because of how they could conquer challenges and experience personal victories. As I got older, I found that my connection with storytelling extended beyond the realm of fiction. It manifested itself through my genuine interest in listening to individuals as they shared their own narratives of real-life struggles and triumphs with me. Motivated by this passion for understanding and supporting others, I embarked on the path towards a career in counseling.

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