Fight, Flight, or Freeze
When thinking about a most recent time my body went into a fight, flight, or freeze mode
was a few of months ago. I found a site for my practicum back in October 2020 and was very
excited. The site was approved, and my site supervisor also accepted my proposal to supervise
me at an offsite location closer to my job. The onsite was a farm and the counselor, (my site
supervisor) used the farm animals in her therapy sessions. During the fourth or fifth
visit/shadowing experience and I soon begun my practicum. I was with one of her twin sons John
heading back to the center to do a tele mental health session and out of nowhere one of her
Dobermann Pinscher attacked me. He bite my right leg and I immediately ran behind this 10
year-old very small child using him to shield and protect me. In our reading, I realize that the
amygdala sent a message, which LeDoux calls this the “low road” that immediately alerted me of
the danger. With this threat it took me to survival mode, and it caused me to flight/run. According
to text, “the amygdala’s danger signals trigger the release of powerful stress hormones, including
cortisol and adrenaline, which increase heart rate, blood pressure, and rate of breathing,
preparing us to fight back or runaway” (Van Der Kolk, 2014, p. 61). With this message, if a
threat is detected according to LeDoux, “the amygdala sends messages to the hypothalamus to
secrete stress hormones to defend against that threat” (2012), which in my case, the Dobermann.
In describing what I went through, it took what seemed like forever for me to calm down.
I tried to hide the fear I felt even when my supervisor’s husband had the Dobermann securely put
away. My heart raced, my palms sweaty, and my faced flustered. I hurriedly enter the building
and sat at the desked. It took me nearly 10 minutes to settle my nerves (I realized I was fearful)
and turn on the computer for my next session. As I sat there, I noticed my pants was torn and
blood seeping through. I was still shaky. I placed tissue over the bloody area and started slowing
my breathing down by making exhales longer than inhales. I then started thinking positive
thoughts, e.g. I was grateful the owner was nearby, and Doberman had his shots, no rabies. I also
relied upon the scripture in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (King James Version, 2017). Suddenly, a peace entered
my heart.
References:
King James Version Bible. (2017). KJV Online. https: www.biblegateway.com/passage
LeDoux, J. (2012). Rethinking the Emotional Brain, Neuron 73. No.4: 653-76.
Van Der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score, Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of
Trauma. New York: NY.
Benedetto,
First of all, I want to start with I am so glad you are okay, and no physical harm came to you. I
must also add, thank you for sharing such a dangerous yet compelling story. From reading your
post, it sound like you dissociated yourself from the danger long enough to launch straight up
and land on your car and climb through the window to safety. According to text, “the dissociation
overwhelming experience is split off and fragmented, so that the emotions, sounds, images,
thoughts, and physical sensations related to the trauma took a life of their own” (Van Der Kolk,
2014, p. 66). You mentioned not having any idea of how you got upon the car nor climbed
through the window. You also did not remember hearing the gators until after the fact you were
away from the threats of harm. What is also unique and interesting is how important the brain is
to us surviving. Our text explained that “the emotional brain initiates preprogrammed escape
plans, like the flight-flight responses” (Van Der Kolk, 2014, p. 57). This seemed to explain why
after you closed the delivery box, saw the gator, launched straight up, and landed on your car.
These automatic reactions are set in motion because of our consciousness. It is amazing how God
made us. I love the way Luke 12:7a explains it, “But even the very hairs of your head are all
numbered” (King James Version, 2017). Regardless of all else, He cares for us.
References:
King James Version Bible. (2017). KJV Online. https: www.biblegateway.com/passage
Van Der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score, Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of
Trauma. New York: NY.
Hannah,
I am so glad the outcome of your traumatic experience with the car wreck left you and your
husband physically okay. Although you both went through a major ordeal, it allowed me to see
how two people experiencing the exact same thing can react in different ways. When you shared
your paralyzing moments in the car hanging from a cliff, I thought about Van Der Kolk when he
explained depersonalization. After pondering depersonalization, I realized that this was not at all
what you experience. In explaining, “threat-induced freezing is characterized by heart
deceleration and immobility; however, it seems to serve as a cognitive preparation for taking
action rather than an inability to act” (Gladwin et al. 2016). In my opinion, this is what you did.
You mentioned talking yourself into moving as you faced the danger of being in a car on a cliff.
It was after getting on the ground to safety away from the car and cliff, then your emotions came
into play. This was when you shared a deep breath and crying.
Reference:
Gladwin T.E., Hashemi, M.W., Van Ast V., Roelofs K. (2016). Ready and waiting: Freezing as
active action preparation under threat. Neurosci Lett 619:182-188
