Fight, Flight, Freeze Responses

Below is a list of flight, fight, freeze responses. These are possible signs that one is no longer feeling safe and might need to stop what they are doing.  While this is not a complete list, it may help to identify what you need to be watching for:

Fight:

• Crying

• Hands in fists, desire to punch, rip

• Flexed/tight jaw, grinding teeth, snarl

• Fight in eyes, glaring, fight in voice

• Desire to stomp, kick, smash with legs, feet

• Feelings of anger/rage

• Knotted stomach/nausea, burning stomach

• Metaphors like bombs, volcanoes erupting

Freeze: 

• Feeling stuck in some part of body

• Feeling cold/frozen, numb, pale skin

• Sense of stiffness, heaviness

• Holding breath/restricted breathing

• Sense of dread, heart pounding

• Decreased heart rate (can sometimes increase)

• Orientation to threat

Flight:

• Restless legs, feet /numbness in legs

• Anxiety/shallow breathing

• Big/darting eyes

• Leg/foot movement

• Reported or observed fidgety-ness, restlessness, feeling trapped, tense

• Sense of running in life- one activity-next

• Excessive exercise