What would be your threat response....fight, flight or freeze?

[FuckKnowsMate]

Just curious about what other people think their body's response to threat would be?
I recall experiencing something when I was on medication and struggling to sleep and think I may have had an episode of 'exploding head syndrome'. I remember very vividly hearing loud knocking on my windows (I was downstairs at the time) and thought the house was about to get burgled and my immediate response was to completely freeze, rooted to the sofa without daring to breathe but could feel my heart through my chest! After calming down, I realised I was actually just experiencing something in the transition state between sleep and awake, however in that moment it felt SO real and I genuinely thought I was in danger......anyway, its now made me think I would be an absolute shitbag in any real danger situation and my response would be to freeze which is pretty useless :(

If you was in danger, do you think you would fight or flight or freeze like me :D

Would like to say fight or flight but like you would probably be freeze

I freeze.

4th option: Appease.

I'd freeze.

Mine is freeze. Its been put to the test unfortunately and its definitely freeze. You have no control over your natural reaction. If you want to overcome it, you have to train and train to learn a different response.

You forgot fawn/appease

The truth is no one knows.

That's the reason they train soldiers in the way they do, to ensure they get 'fight'.

I don't think of myself as an aggressive person at all, but judging from times siblings/friends have tried to sneak up and surprise me (getting an instant punch to the stomach) I think fight. Or perhaps freeze? One sibling is completely freeze, to the point they'd actually play statue or pretend sleep/death, like in a comedy film!

Freeze.
I was invested from a snake (I’m petrified of them) and literally couldn’t move. DH had to sort of scoop shuffle me out of the way.
Also when we were being rushed out due to a bomb scare I faffed about with phones, car keys, blankets. Again, as I was filling water bottles 🙄dh had to intervene.

Yeah, annoyingly I freeze too.

Happened once during a sexual assault. I was too embarrassed (almost on his behalf) to do anything. Does that sound wierd!

I did once fight back though, when someone tried to touch me up on a queue at a theme park. I yelled “FUCK OFF” and he got removed by security guards.

Invested?! Inches from.

Huge adrenaline rush and fight mode. Been tested twice, luckily both turned out ok but I appreciate this is not always the best response.

I’ve done fight and freeze

never flight. Terribly unfit and can’t run for a start.

Actually flight from spiders! I guess I’m just really really unique and interesting.

When a man tried to pull me off down an alley way I ran. So it would appear I have flight instincts.

Someone breaking into my house? Whatever it took to protect the kids. My plan involves locking us in the bathroom and out of the window onto the car port if necessary.

my response was “friend” which was what I heard it called so same as appease I suppose.

This also happened to me and I ran so I suppose it depends on the circumstances, would have been dangerous to run in my “appease” situation. Hope you ok is very frightening.

I don't freeze I don't flight I don't freeze. I do get a massive adrenaline rush and have an immense amount of clarity on what needs to be done. My thought process become very astute and loud

When my body sets it off and there's no threat, then I freeze (assessment route for PTSD)

Outsiders? I scream, get angry so I fight.
Family? I freeze then fawn.

I think freeze, then appease.

But I witnessed a stabbing as a child and ran, but froze first and then ran in a separate direction to my friends.

When I was attacked in the street I screamed my head off and fought. To be fair, I'm not going to outrun anyone, so it was probably as good a response as any!

This is what I do in a crisis, but not I’d venture potentially not when there’s an immediate threat to my safety.

I think sexual assault you are more likely to freeze. I think statistically it's the response most likely to keep you alive/reduce your chance of injury (beyond the injury you are already sustaining iyswim)

I've been tested twice and oddly enough I suddenly get incredibly fearless and aggressive. I say oddly enough because I'm small and polite and don't look the type to go nuclear.

Both times the assailants - men - decided better of it and scattered.

I am a walking ethnic stereotype in that regard 😈

Hey.

I once had a combination event where I reacted differently to each element. A bird got into the house. I'm terrified of birds, so I ran like hell, but realised I couldn't stay outside forever and let the sparrows move in, so I approached a man I vaguely recognised as being from the neighbourhood to ask if he'd help. I know! But I was desperate. He duly obliged, then proved himself to be less of a hero than I'd thought by sexually assaulting me.
At this point I didn't run. It was a kind of freeze/appease combination. I've blanked out exactly how I got him out of the house.

Mine is fight. Has been put to the test a few times.

Not really a very adaptive response to have in many threat situations.

I also have exploding head syndrome...although it is more of a problem when I am stressed. Quite the experience isn't it!

Ahh I wasn't aware of the fourth response!

I think PP's are probably correct that it also depends on the situation. I still think I would have a freeze response unfortunately, however 🙄