Trauma Responses

This diagram explores the trauma responses or coping strategies we all use in life. Each one of us has a tendency toward a certain main response to situations, either the Fighter, Runner, Fawner or Freezer . For example, when you are confronted by a partner, you may have a tendency to dismiss them and avoid talking to them about the subject any further. This would be more of a Runner response. For someone else, they could have a tendency to get angry and critical when confronted, this would be more of a Fighter response.

As shown in the middle, the goal is feeling safe and engaged in the present moment. How do we get there? It’s by understanding how to get our needs met…

Safe and in the Present Moment

Abraham Maslow was a psychologist that came up with a model called the Hierarchy of Needs. These are primal needs that all of us have and we are constantly trying to get these need met. Even with the advancement in technology, we are still just coming up with new ways to get this ancient primal needs met.

When there is conflict between two people, if you listen closely, they are trying to express that one more of these need are not being met.

You’re relationships and your ability to communicate will greatly improve if you start looking at life from a needs base perspective; trying to see how you and those around you are doing their best to communicate their needs and how to get them met.

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