Understanding Trauma Responses: Why You React the Way You Do

Trauma doesn’t always look like what we expect. Many people imagine trauma as a single, life-changing event, but in reality, trauma can be ongoing, complex, and rooted in how we’ve learned to survive difficult circumstances.

When our nervous system perceives threat, it reacts automatically. These responses are often described as fight, flight, freeze, or fawn:

• Fight — reacting with anger, defensiveness, or confrontation.

• Flight — avoiding, withdrawing, or staying constantly “busy” to escape.

• Freeze — feeling stuck, numb, or unable to act.

• Fawn — people-pleasing, complying, or minimising your own needs to stay safe.

These responses are not signs of weakness — they are survival strategies. In therapy, we work to recognise these patterns, develop grounding techniques, and rebuild a sense of safety and control.

If you notice yourself cycling through these responses, know that you are not alone. Healing takes time, but with support, it’s possible to move from surviving to truly living.