The fight-flight-freeze stress response is the biological foundation of many mental health stigma presentations. Understanding it demystifies mental health stigma and points toward effective interventions.
The Three Stress Responses in Mental Health Stigma
Fight: Anger, aggression, irritability — mental health stigma channeled outward
Flight: Avoidance, escape, withdrawal — the most common mental health stigma behavioral pattern
Freeze: Paralysis, numbness, shutdown — depression and dissociation-type mental health stigma
How Chronic Activation Drives Mental Health Stigma
When the stress response activates repeatedly or doesn't turn off, it creates the chronic physiological state underlying mental health stigma: elevated cortisol, dysregulated neurotransmitters, disrupted sleep.
Working With Your Stress Response in Mental Health Stigma
- Name it: 'My nervous system is in fight/flight/freeze right now'
- Move: Physical movement discharges the mobilization energy of fight/flight
- Breathe: Activates the off-switch for the stress response
- Connect: Safe social engagement signals to the nervous system that the threat has passed