Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support
Sensory Processing Flight, Fight, Freeze & Fawn
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Sensory Processing Flight, Fight, Freeze & Fawn
Jeanette Loftus
The Flight Fight & Freeze Fawn response is essentially the body's natural reaction to perceived threats or stressors.
This response is a combination of four survival instincts: flight, fight, freeze, and fawn. When faced with a potentially overwhelming situation, children with sensory differences may demonstrate one or more of these responses.
The flight response is characterized by a child's desire to escape or avoid a situation that they perceive as overwhelming.
This may manifest as running away, hiding, or shutting down completely. Children who experience the flight response may become anxious, agitated, and have difficulty focusing on tasks.
The fight response is when a child becomes combative or aggressive in response to a perceived threat. This can manifest as physical outbursts, tantrums, and difficulty following rules or directions. Children who experience the fight response may also have difficulty with self-regulation and controlling their emotions.
Flight or flight & Freeze is when a child's body naturally prepares for an attack and gets ready for a threat. In highly anxious situations the fight or flight & freeze response is triggered. This is what our bodies do to react to dangerous situations. Anxiety is an emotion that protects us from harm and danger but for some children it can happen when they are not in danger at all.
After a traumatic event in a child's life, they can develop an exaggerated anxious stress response. This is usually if the child has PTSD, have been abused or have experienced a stressful life event such as a natural disaster.
Flight, flight, freeze and fawn are all stress responses for children. Flight, fight or freeze can all be an extremely scary reaction to stress that children can have. Most adults and children do not understand flight, fight or freeze responses and are confused why they are having these survival responses.
It is important to explain to children why they are having these stress responses so they don't believe something is wrong with them. When you see that your child is feeling overwhelmed or dysregulated ask them to take a deep breath. Teach them some mindful activities that they are able to do when they are feeling sensory overload.
The freeze response is when a child becomes completely immobile and unresponsive to external stimuli. This response is often seen in children who are overwhelmed by sensory information and may shut down as a way to cope. They may appear to be in a daze or trance-like state and have difficulty responding to their surroundings.
When a child who has Sensory Processing Disorder is overwhelmed by sensory input their reactions may be Fight, Flight, Freeze or Fawn!
Flight - when a child is scared, withdrawn, panicking and feels they need to run from threats to be safe in isolation.
Fight- when a child is overwhelmed and they are preparing to fight off danger or threats.
Freeze- when a child is still in their movement, frustrated and overwhelmed that the child can not speak or move.
Fawn- is a trauma response when a child will people please and be overly compliant to avoid conflict or ensure safety.
The final response, fawn, is when a child exhibits a desire to please and appease others. This response may manifest as excessive compliance or people-pleasing behavior. Children with the fawn response may also have difficulty setting boundaries and standing up for themselves.
The final response, fawn, is when a child exhibits a desire to please and appease others. This response may manifest as excessive compliance or people-pleasing behavior. Children with the fawn response may also have difficulty setting boundaries and standing up for themselves.
Ask your child if they need a break to do some breathing exercises or to practice other coping skills they have learned. Ask your child which mindful breathing coping activity they prefer and sit down and do the chosen activity with your child together.
Once you observe that your child is regulated and feeling calmer, redirect them back to the activity and let them know you are going to get through it together. Taking a break will help your child from getting dysregulated.
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