There are basically 4 ANS survival responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn.
In the fight or flight response, you react to a stimulus that scares you. Your heart rate, blood pressure and extremity muscle strength increase and you either stay and fight or get out of there (flight), depending on which choice will allow you to survive. People who often have this survival response can feel often anxious, rushing and even, hypervigilant (because of the fear that danger may be lurking around the corner). So, their nervous system often become dysregulated.
In the freeze response, you stay frozen, in place, in order to survive. People who have this freeze response may tend to feel depressed.
In the fawn response, you bend to other people’s wants and needs; you people-please. This can become your response with serious emotional abuse and, clearly, has negative ramifications for your adult life.
You may recognize one or more of these responses within you. Sometimes, there is one prevailing response and sometimes, a mix. We all respond differently to stress and these may become chronic responses to stress.
The good news: You can do something to change this negative feedback loop.
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