{"id":6038,"date":"2025-09-28T20:08:12","date_gmt":"2025-09-28T20:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/traumanet.nl\/?post_type=infotheek&p=6038"},"modified":"2026-04-22T20:04:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T20:04:08","slug":"survival-mechanisms-and-trauma","status":"publish","type":"infotheek","link":"https:\/\/traumanet.nl\/en\/infotheek\/overlevingsreacties-bij-trauma\/","title":{"rendered":"Survival responses in trauma"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What are survival responses?<\/h2>

A survival response is an automatic and instinctive reaction to an experienced threat or danger. Survival responses are sometimes also called stress responses or trauma responses. Even before you can think about it, your body and brain have already reacted and your stress system<\/a> at full speed. A great deal of energy is then released, making you much stronger or faster than usual, for example.\u00a0<\/p>

Depending on factors including the situation, your capabilities (can you actually get away, or not?) and previous experiences, your system \u2018chooses\u2019 a survival response. One time that might be flight, and another time freeze.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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View the info sheet on survival reactions<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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You don't choose survival responses; your system chooses for you<\/h2>

It is impossible to predict how your system<\/a> responds to a threatening situation. However, it is possible that you naturally lean more toward a certain reaction. For example, some people routinely avoid confrontations, while others speak up immediately. In addition, freezing is a common reaction to a threatening situation from which you cannot escape.\u00a0<\/p>

It is also possible that your system has developed a kind of default response, based on past experiences you have had that helped you survive. For example, if you have frozen multiple times in a situation, freezing can become a response that your system quickly switches to, even when the threat in reality is not very large.\u00a0<\/p>

It is important to know that you do not consciously choose a survival response yourself; your system chooses for you. With only one goal: survival. So do not blame yourself if you did not do something, or did do something, in a threatening situation. You don't have to reproach yourself for anything, and you have nothing to be ashamed of. It was and is not your fault.\u00a0<\/p>

Different survival responses<\/h2>

The most well-known survival responses are flight, fight, and freeze. You can also see these survival responses in animals when they feel threatened.\u00a0<\/p>

In addition to fight, flight, and freeze, there are several other survival responses that can be triggered. Common responses include:<\/p>