The fight-flight-freeze stress response is the biological foundation of many traumatic brain injury presentations. Understanding it demystifies traumatic brain injury and points toward effective interventions.
The Three Stress Responses in Traumatic Brain Injury
Fight: Anger, aggression, irritability — traumatic brain injury channeled outward
Flight: Avoidance, escape, withdrawal — the most common traumatic brain injury behavioral pattern
Freeze: Paralysis, numbness, shutdown — depression and dissociation-type traumatic brain injury
How Chronic Activation Drives Traumatic Brain Injury
When the stress response activates repeatedly or doesn't turn off, it creates the chronic physiological state underlying traumatic brain injury: elevated cortisol, dysregulated neurotransmitters, disrupted sleep.
Working With Your Stress Response in Traumatic Brain Injury
- 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