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Trauma Responses For Characters

Home » Uncategorized » Trauma Responses For Characters

On: May 25, 2021 | By: FightWrite

Trauma responses are how we respond to emotional threat. They are generally the result of how we coped with life as a child. How a character responds to emotional threat may not be in keeping with how they respond to physical threat.

It is not uncommon for the physical and emotional threat responses to be the same. But, that isn’t always the case. It could be that through training, they have changed their physical response to differ from their emotional response.

What it looks like

What does that look like? A character who, when challenged physically, will fight like a rabid animal, may go home to an emotionally abusive spouse and become a “fawner.” On the opposite end of the spectrum, the character who is an emotional bully (fight)  may actively avoid a physical threat (flight) or threaten without carrying through (front).

Here are the trauma responses as I posted them on IG. I post tidbits like this all along. So, give me a follow @carla.c.hoch or #fightwrite. Also, on occasion I do open calls for fight questions on my story and do book give-aways. Soooooo follow, follow, follow!

The following lists are courtesy Complex Trauma Healing

 

FIGHT – “No relationships, just prisoners”

UNCONSCIOUS BELIEF–Power and control create a safe environment, secure love and soothes abandonment  

INTERNAL SURVIVAL PATTERN–Pursue power and control

CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS–Spoiled, insufficient limits, allowed to imitate an abusive or narcissistic parent

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS–Criticizes, rages, ceaselessly dominates conversation

OUTER CRITIC VOICE–I will control and correct the imperfection in others               

TO FEEL SAFE–Acts – Rages at others    

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES–Assertive, creates solid boundaries, courageous, good leader, articulate

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES–Bully, explosive, controlling, insistent on obedience, rejects opinions of others, controls rather than connects

DECISION MAKING–Impulsive

 

FLIGHT – “Stay busy”

UNCONSCIOUS BELIEF–Perfection & achievement make me safe and lovable      

INTERNAL SURVIVAL PATTERN–Escape into thoughts and action                    

CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS–Hyperactive response to family trauma ranging between type “A” driven and ADHD drop-out

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS–Worrying, performance anxiety, adrenaline junkie, over-achiever

INNER CRITIC VOICE–I must be perfect                      

TO FEEL SAFE–Thinks obsessively         

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES–Healthy retreat, industrious, know-how, perseverance, objective

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES–Panicky, worrier, adrenaline junkie, over-achiever

DECISION MAKING–Over-analytical

 

FREEZE — “Hide from the world”

UNCONSCIOUS BELIEF–  People = danger

INTERNAL SURVIVAL PATTERN—Avoid human contact

CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS–The scapegoat, the most profoundly abandoned child, not allowed to employ other fight responses

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS–Hibernating, sleeping, daydreaming, screen addiction, doom scrolling

OUTER CRITIC VOICE–Avoid imperfect others  

TO FEEL SAFE–Withdraws

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES–Acute awareness, mindfulness, peace, presence, detachment, poised readiness

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES–Contracting, hiding, camouflaging, isolation, couch potato, hermit

DECISION MAKING–Struggles

 

FOLLOW/FAWN —“Keep others happy”

UNCONSCIOUS BELIEF–The price of admission to any relationship is forfeiture of my needs, rights, boundaries

 INTERNAL SURVIVAL PATTERN–Please people

CHILDHOOD CONDITIONS–Narcissistic parents, child learns bits of safety and love come from compliance

COMMON CHARACTERISTICS–Entertainer, “yes” man, flattering, desperate to fit in

 INNER CRITIC VOICE —I’m imperfect, I must please 

 TO FEEL SAFE–Goes along

POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES–Love, service, compromise, listener, fair, empathetic, peace making

NEGATIVE ATTRIBUTES–Obsequious, servitude, loss of self, people pleaser, doormat, slave

DECISION MAKING–Defers to others

 

 

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