Trauma Responses
Your trauma response is what happens when a part of your brain, the amygdala, receives the message that you are at threat of harm. A trauma response is an automatic reaction and cannot be chosen; it is not a logical decision.
All Trauma Responses Are Valid
Our trauma responses happen automatically and instinctively as our brain tries to ensure our survival.
No trauma response means that you consented to what happened to you, or that you caused it to happen. What can also happen as a result of sexual violence is that you may continue to have trauma response/s even after the threat is gone. This might get in the way of your usual ability to process information, this is a natural reaction to trauma.
Trauma responses are often known as the five Fs. A person’s trauma response may be a combination of any of the five Fs, or a different reaction altogether.
Fight
Physically or verbally fighting back against the perpetrator.
Friend
Also known as fawn; calling out to someone for help and/or trying to befriend the perpetrator by placating, negotiating, bribing, or pleading with them.
Flight
Trying to put distance between you and the perpetrator through hiding, running, or backing away.
Freeze
A very common reaction to sexual violence where the body goes still and quiet in order to survive an attack. Freezing does not equal consent but is an instinctual bodily response that happens to try and protect you from further harm.
Flop
Similar to freezing, except your muscles become loose and your body goes floppy. This is an automatic reaction that can reduce the physical pain of what’s happening to you. Your mind can also shut down to protect itself. Flop can also mean that your trauma response is to follow instructions given by the person or people hurting you.
We know it can be difficult to talk about what happened to you if your body reacted in a way you did not expect or did not like, but we are here for you and we do not judge. We know that the only person responsible for sexual violence is the person or people that chose to hurt you.
We offer specialist services for women and girls who have experienced any kind of sexual violence, at any time in their lives. To find out more about our services, click on the Our Services buttone below.
