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[Infographic] – How the Nervous System Responds to Trauma

57 Comments

It can often be difficult for trauma survivors to understand how or why they reacted a certain way during a traumatic experience.

Instead of seeing their trauma response as the result of a split-second, unconscious decision made by their nervous system, your client may blame themself for not reacting differently.

This can be especially true for clients who went into the freeze or collapse response.

But Ruth Lanius, MD, PhD has a simple way of explaining how the nervous system responds to trauma that can be very helpful for clients.

This powerful piece of psychoeducation can ease feelings of shame and self-blame, and help clients appreciate the nervous system’s efforts to keep them safe.

We put it into an infographic that you can share with your clients. Have a look.

Click the image to enlarge

Title: How the Nervous System Responds to Trauma How does your nervous system figure out how to respond in a crisis? It’s a split- second, unconscious process designed to choose the best option for keeping you safe. Here’s how it works. Identify the Threat. Can I escape?If yes, then flee. If we can quickly get far enough away from the threat, we might be able to escape and avoid interacting with it entirely. If I can’t escape, can I overpower it? If yes, then fight. If we attack the threat before it attacks us, we might be able to weaken it and possibly keep it from attacking in the future. If I can’t overpower it, can I make it lose interest? If yes, then freeze. If our body closes up, becomes rigid, and won’t move, we might be able to keep the threat from noticing or becoming interested in us. If I can’t make it lose interest, then collapse. If our mind/brain disconnects from our body, like by dissociating, or in some cases by fainting, we might be able to avoid feeling as much of the pain. In the face of threat, there isn’t time to try every approach. In fact, your nervous system has to make these choices almost instantaneously. So while you may not understand the choice, or agree with it afterward, it’s important to know that your body is taking care of you the best it knows how.

Click here for the text-only version of the infographic
Title: How the Nervous System Responds to Trauma.
How does your nervous system figure out how to respond in a crisis?
It’s a split- second, unconscious process designed to choose the best option for keeping you safe. Here’s how it works.
Identify the Threat. Can I escape?
If yes, then flee. If we can quickly get far enough away from the threat, we might be able to escape and avoid interacting with it entirely.
If I can’t escape, can I overpower it?
If yes, then fight. If we attack the threat before it attacks us, we might be able to weaken it and possibly keep it from attacking in the future.
If I can’t overpower it, can I make it lose interest?
If yes, then freeze. If our body closes up, becomes rigid, and won’t move, we might be able to keep the threat from noticing or becoming interested in us.
If I can’t make it lose interest, then collapse. If our mind/brain disconnects from our body, like by dissociating, or in some cases by fainting, we might be able to avoid feeling as much of the pain.
In the face of threat, there isn’t time to try every approach. In fact, your nervous system has to make these choices almost instantaneously. So while you may not understand the choice, or agree with it afterward, it’s important to know that your body is taking care of you the best it knows how.

 

(If you’re sharing this infographic, please be sure to include the copyright information. We put a lot of work into creating these resources for you. Thanks!)

If you’d like to print a copy, you can use one of these links:

  • Full color
  • Print friendly

If you’re looking for more ways to work with the nervous system’s response to trauma, you can get some of the top strategies in How to Work with Emerging Defense Responses to Trauma (Beyond the Fight/Flight/Freeze Model).

In this program, you’ll hear from Stephen Porges, PhD; Janina Fisher, PhD; Pat Ogden, PhD; Thema Bryant, PhD, and other leading experts in the field. Just click here to sign up.

Now we’d like to hear your takeaway from this infographic. Please let us know by leaving a comment below.

If you found this helpful, here are a few more resources you might be interested in:

What’s Happening in the Nervous System of Patients Who “Please and Appease” (or Fawn) in Response to Trauma? With Stephen Porges, PhD

Working with the Nervous System via Telehealth

How the Nervous System Responds to Trauma

 

 

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Related Posts: Healing Trauma, Infographics, Trauma, Trauma Therapy

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57 Comments

  1. Judith Bartlett, Other, GB says

    Greetings. I am not a professional but now 54 and years of trying to understand cptsd symptoms. Perception is very interesting, and curious eg situations and/or events not being recognised as being as significant as they are. Also, dissociation can be so subtle, and so fast & immediate that the mechanism is not sufficiently recognised either.
    CEN info & Attachment theory, as well as (late) diagnosis of autism & adhd, maybe HSP, & co-dependency, all seem useful additional info to consider for a fuller picture as to why dysregulation can be so pernicious.

    Thank you for the link for more about the Fawn response.

    The info-graphic you so kindly created is very helpful.
    The biggest ‘take-away’ for me is the ‘Collapse’ option – not seen that before, and the specific mention of “fainting” very useful (tho how to distinguish between that and ‘blacking-out’/ dissociation? by context?)

    Very interested to hear recently of research (with mice) about trauma responses being passed down generationally thro (epi?)genetics.
    Grateful that it’s apparently possible to do Ancestral Healing as we are all quantumly interconnected and ‘Time’ is actually a construct.

    Big THANK YOU for all your presences & lovingness & hard work & the free info, & your various books ~ greatly appreciated.

    Thank you also to all the commenters.

    (NICABM offered a course not so long ago I realllllly wanted to purchase but didn’t have the funds so was going to email to ask about installments but didn’t manage to & missed the offer-window, tho it’s still on my wish-list. I do realise you are primarily focused on training professionals, which I might’ve been by now but CFS & brain fog & cptsd are challenging)
    [Tim Fletcher & Teal Swan & Crappy Childhood Fairy youtube videos have helped a lot too, & Jasmin Lee Cori’s book Healing from Trauma, & I want to learn more about TRE exercises, BioEnergetics, EMDR & similar, Psych-K etc, ie quicker ways to shift trauma symptoms, as understanding is a really big part but often doesn’t seem to produce change, or not sufficient/ permanent..?]

    Reply
    • Milan McDavis, Another Field, NYC, NY, USA says

      Hi Judith,

      In my early 40’s my mentor who got me into graduate school, suggested gearing my thesis paper on trauma responses passed down generationally, cptsd among veterans. It is only years later I discovered Peter Levine’s work who wrote “Waking Tiger, healing trauma”. I am very appreciative of your reference to the work by
      Tim Fletcher & Teal Swan & Crappy Childhood Fairy YouTube videos & Jasmin Lee Cori’s book Healing from Trauma. I agree that there are occasionally mishaps and we can miss the offer window, but it’s still on our wish list. I am certain that if you shoot a message to Nicabm training professionals sites… I am sure you won’t regret giving it a try, and I can guarantee you that Nicabm staff are the most genuinely generous people and will give you an extension because I got in the past. Good luck to you in this, and huge huge thanks, I much appreciate you sharing.

      Reply
  2. Eileen Ridgway, Psychotherapy, IE says

    Great infographic containing the complete story of how the nervous system responds to trauma, so it’s no longer our fault, there is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. This is what happens. Our bodies have our backs and do the best they can to help us survive. An important re framing tool, empowering self compassion and completing the understanding to a point of resolution and healing

    Reply
  3. Richard England, Medicine, AU says

    Useful, but given that we are talk of the Five Fs (including #1 “Friend”) and some are even adding another: Please and Appease (how to start that with F?) it would be good if they could be incorporated too.

    Reply
  4. Janet Robertson, Another Field, Lumberton, NJ, USA says

    Thanks so much for taking the time to creat this infographic. Will be sharing with relevant clients.

    Reply
  5. Evelyn O'Connell, Psychotherapy, IE says

    Thank you for sharing great piece of information.
    This is quite similar to the piece of psychoeducation I use with my clients. is a very useful and the difference that it makes with their life. thank you.

    Reply
  6. Lynette Hughes, Social Work, AU says

    Perfect.

    Reply
  7. Glenys Wilson, Psychology, GB says

    Thanks, but to emphasize that this is a primitive system that now is trying to deal with modern threats it might be useful to have the threat shown as a Sabre tooth tiger. Also helps explain how modern threats might be emotional and psychological rather than physical

    Reply
  8. Trine Vangsbo, Psychology, DK says

    Thank you for sharing. It’s very much along the lines of what I usually say to my clients, but it’s very useful to be able to show it to them. A good detail, also, that the body does so to best protect us.

    Reply
  9. dart cree, Teacher, CA says

    Panic is a legitimate strategy. Do something totally off the wall. If it works, you pass on your genes. Many predators will pause if an animal behaves in an eratic manner. It could be sick, and thus less desireable as prey.

    Bluff is a legitimate strategy. While I cannot win a fight with a bear, I can bluff a bear into having self doubt. You can argue that this is a subtype of fight.

    Call for help. This is what we train our kids to do. And likely why they scream when excited playing. Constant noise allows adults to track them even when they are out of sight.

    Placate. Not usually a technique used with predators, but with human interactions. This is the fawn response. But placting, distracting, by thowing the deer carcass you were carrying to the lion may allow you to escape

    Reply
    • Harper Pellington, Another Field, Mt. Weather, DC, USA says

      Wonderful ideas! I think it’s totally applicable, and way better than what our stupid human bodies are hardwired to do. In danger? Just PLACATE, kids! And if that doesn’t work, call for help! And if by then you are still functioning- BLUFF your way out.

      But seriously, Unbelievable. That’s just straight up delusional you actually think this.

      Reply
    • Andre Lampa, Marriage/Family Therapy, CA says

      I appreciate the mention here of some other strategies that might be seen. It helped me to realize that the point here is the client’s reaction to their previously employed strategy, not the escape itself. I think when reviewing the use of any of these strategies, helpers should consider (and help the client to consider) whether the protective behavior was a more automatic reaction, or one where it was possible for the threatened person to have the presence of mind to plan and be intentional. We might recognize and appreciate the former, while working towards the latter.

      Reply
    • Lynette Hughes, Social Work, AU says

      Perfect much respect

      Reply
  10. Rose Blakey-Phillips, Counseling, Dothan, AL, USA says

    Very helpful.

    Reply
  11. PATRICIA JOHNSON, Psychology, AU says

    That is such a helpful visual prompt to help clients release their sense of failure or guilt for ‘making the wrong choice’. Thank you.

    Reply
  12. Kevin Kuehlwein, Psychology, USA says

    great infographic! Thanks!

    Reply
  13. Carol Kilp, Other, CA says

    Excellent! I have been through a freeze response and still 25 years later realise that I have absolutely no memory of the situation I was involved in! It is very interesting that the brain and body can work together for so long to protect yourself from the trauma that was happening!

    Reply
  14. Anju Rathore, IN says

    This is an excellent way to learn about the trauma response. Thankyou 🙏 for sharing.

    Reply
  15. Linda Bell, Psychotherapy, Cary, NC, USA says

    The print friendly version cuts off the bottom, including your the nicabm credit.

    Reply
  16. Delia, Physical Therapy, ZA says

    Just appreciating all that you are doing to assist as many as possible to help each other during these times.
    Deep gratitude and blessings.

    Reply
  17. Edna Rich, Marriage/Family Therapy, ZA says

    this is an excellent tool to use to explain a trauma response. Thanks for sharing

    Reply
  18. Zelda OConnor, Another Field, CA says

    This is excellent; clear and on point. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
  19. Pip Rose, Social Work, AU says

    Kim Ball
    Pat Ogden and Babette Rothschild have been leaders in the field for decades
    Also in the Art Therapy trauma healing world pretty much all the leading names are women
    eg Lucia Cappachione, Cathy Malchiodi. And Cornelia Elbrecht To name just three. I refer you in particular to Elbrecht’s ground breaking work and publications.

    Reply
  20. Manda Moyo, Psychotherapy, GB says

    Thank you so much. Accessible visual 👏🏽

    Reply
  21. Fataneh Farnia, Psychotherapy, CA says

    Thank you! Very useful.

    Reply
  22. Paul Meleng, Coach, AU says

    Thanks. That is very useful. It is the core of understanding what is going on for humans. “Clients” ( we) need to be very clear on this right from the start, then every “conversation” or therapy can reference to it.

    Reply
  23. Nancy Gutfreund, Marriage/Family Therapy, Santa Barbara, CA, USA says

    Helpful to see 4 different responses, flee, fight, freeze and collapse, thank you. I’ve experienced these and find freeze the most uncomfortable. Keep judging myself for not being able to respond so the infographic reduces a bit of the agony and shame.

    Reply
  24. SYLVIA Papp, Psychology, AU says

    Very informative….thank you

    Reply
  25. Wendy Tie, Other, NZ says

    What a beautiful, easily understood, gently colored diagram. Very useful and easy to understand. I agree with Ricks comment about possibly including a ‘please and appease’ pathway..

    Reply
    • Nancy Gutfreund, Marriage/Family Therapy, Santa Barbara, CA, USA says

      I would also like to see a please and appease diagram, thx.

      Reply
  26. Phil Petachenko, Chiropractor, Encinitas, CA, USA says

    Thank you for the graphic representation.

    I have one point of inquiry. I’ve known people who go immediately into fight. In these people, I do not sense even a split second of flight.

    I’m interested in other people’s comments about fight being able to be activated before flight.

    Thank you for this very good forum for learning and sharing.

    Reply
    • Paul Meleng, Coach, AU says

      As we are reacting to a “recording” that bypasses our rational thinking, the reaction is likely to be whichever one that we used to survive very early in life and the one that was the response to ( or content in) the traumatic incidents that established the recording. Later, as adults, the reaction is not so much to the actual situation but to the way it restimulates the early recording.
      So you could fairly reasonably suspect that the always fight person is showing you the nature of their earliest hurts.

      Reply
      • Tanara, Health Education, USA says

        I am this patient, fight first. Flee last. It’s terrible.

        Reply
    • Melissa Casson, Social Work, AU says

      It’s not a sequential series of activations. It’s one in particular that has served you previously to maintain surviving. Someone can experience all 3 depending on the precipitating factor that triggers the trauma response. I experience freeze when it comes to being exposed to heights or on a boat in deep sea, I don’t believe this is something I’ve experienced in this life, it could be passed down through epigenetics or be a former life experience still with me as an implicit memory.

      Reply
  27. Aaron says

    excellent to teach patients!
    A.Ament, MD

    Reply
  28. Jill Chapman says

    Many thanks great info graphic.

    Reply
  29. Rick Becker, Another Field, Rochester, NY, USA says

    Your recent email featuring Stephen Porges on the “please and appease” response to trauma might well be included here, too. I’m reminded of stories on the internet where a kitty and a lion form a mutual bond in captivity…perhaps a quite different scenario than trauma where one beast is free to dominate the other, but maybe not all that different than when an abuser and a victim are locked together by social position, economic factors or other circumstances.

    Reply
  30. Hilary Adele, Osteopathy, GB says

    Thank you.
    For your support to us all…

    Reply
  31. Shannon A, Stress Management, USA says

    Thank you sharing this beautiful, compassionate work. How generous for you to offer it as you have above.

    Reply
  32. Anonymous says

    Thank you for sharing this information. It‘s so helpful.

    Reply
  33. Caty Hartung, DE says

    Thank you for infographic, easy and helpful!

    Reply
    • Caty Hartung, Coach, DE says

      Thank you for all you do…

      Reply
  34. Dawn Andre, Counseling, Channelview, TX, USA says

    Thank you for this helpful and explanatory infographic. It is detailed yet easy to understand and will be a wonderful resource to hand out to client’s.

    Reply
  35. Esther Brandon, Coach, Jamaica Plain, MA, USA says

    Good morning, Clear informative infographic! I would suggest adding a final picture to connect the primitive functions with examples of how this plays out for us in modern times e.g. being confronted by a difficult person (family member, friend, co-worker), and our nervous system is triggered into a state of threat, we need to escape, in modern times we may: leave a room abruptly, hang up the phone, if we were in a conversation with the person who caused the NS to go into threat state, ignore or delete a text or e-mail message. Thank you, Esther Brandon

    Reply
    • Bryony Schwan, Coach, Missoula, MT, USA says

      Yes agreed that would be very helpful

      Reply
    • beverly lake, Mt. Vernon, TX, USA says

      I am a client and just a few minutes ago, to my counselor, detailed both the freeze mode and related an avoidance strategy to escape a NS trigger I recognized as upcoming. i did not choose to fight, just flight in a modern day scenario.
      Thank you for the clarification of what I did.

      Reply
  36. Anonymous says

    Thank you for everything that you’re doing! So incredibly insightful and informative.

    Reply
  37. Margaret Goldthorp, Psychotherapy, GB says

    Thank you so much for this infographic, it’s great. I’ll use it with clients, especially those on the autism spectrum.

    Reply
  38. Jo M., Another Field, GB says

    Its great. Specially the part about wanting to prevent the danger happening again. theres depth + height psychology in that.
    thanks.

    Reply
  39. Mike Crockett, Counseling, ZA says

    Your kindness and generosity is so very much appreciated, especially by those of us living in distant countries!!!

    Reply
  40. Janet Roth, Psychology, GB says

    These sessions are invaluable. Thank you so much. What an amazing service to the world. Jan

    Reply
  41. Hassan Saleh, Counseling, AU says

    Thanks Ruth,
    It’d be good if we can also have an infographic representation that explains how the body takes care of us and how it knows how to do that?
    Hassan

    Reply
  42. Sebastian Hendricks, Medicine, GB says

    Thank you.
    External people struggle to understand that this response is outside our control emphasising this might help others to understand.
    It might also help to give human examples, the outacting child in rage harming others and the quiet one who might be fawning making it harder to spot.
    The visuals are the best way to teach people.
    Thank you!

    Reply
  43. Wolfgang Fiebig, Coach, DE says

    Thank you! Once again, a revealing infographic!

    On a side note: It landed in my inbox right on time for a workshop I will facilitate tomorrow.

    Reply
  44. Ida, Another Field, NL says

    thank you, now i do understand my fear of fainting in theatre or concerthalls by seeing the collaps reaction

    Reply
  45. Julia Howell, Nursing, Gainesville, FL, USA says

    What about fawning

    Reply
  46. Laurie S, CA says

    So well explained nice visual that is so helpful to better understand trauma. Rather than being a fear based response I would think it is a “threat”, real or non real, felt at the time the person experienced and no longer present. And, flee-fight-freeze response, is the most common “survival mode” just like a sort of self-defense to attacks and abuse. I just feel like this infographic doesn’t clearly explain and show how to regain the sense of control of the body/mind awareness when this happens in a sudden way in such a situation nor to stay safe.

    Reply

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