Your Fear Response is “Flight”
A high score in this fear response suggests that you usually run away from the fear that you encounter in life.
Definition of the
Flight Response
In situations that create the “flight” fear response, your natural coping technique is to flee. When you have a disagreement with someone, you will most likely walk out to avoid the discomfort you feel in the circumstance.
Coping Mechanism:
Practice R.A.I.N.S. Skills
According to Judson Brewer, a psychologist who specializes in anxiety, exercising this technique can help us cope with our initial want to flee or run from anxious thoughts, in this case, conflict. RAIN is the name of the skill. Then, we at STACS have added a component to this skill, the letter S. That’s why we call it R.A.I.N.S. skills, and it comprises the following features:
R for Recognize your current situation and Relax into it. Allow yourself to feel whatever you want. You’re already in the situation, and there’s nothing you can do about it.
A stands for Allowing the situation to continue and Accepting that you are already in it. Do not run away or push it away.
I for Investigate the fear that you are feeling. Why are you afraid? What thoughts should I be experiencing? What does your body feel like right now? What am I feeling?
N for Note the fear or situation; acknowledge that “I am having these thoughts or these feelings, but I am not my thoughts and feelings (Not attach). They are transient and can come and go.”
S stands for Solution for a Healthy Response to this Fear.
Once we have identified what we are afraid of or the feelings associated with this thing, we have to create 3 possible solutions that don’t involve leaving, freezing, or fighting the situation of conflict or discomfort. To help yourselves with this last step, try asking yourself the following:
1. What actions should I take to resolve this problem?
2. Is what I will be doing going to affect me negatively or positively? (Make sure your answer here is “positive” because if not, you need to reassess your solution.)
3. When you’re done coming up with a solution, make sure that you’ll be able to complete this line:
“In order to overcome this fear, challenge, or conflict, I have to ____________.”
Feel free to download a copy of this flight response coping mechanism!
The following have been selected for you to help you gain more important insights and understandings of the dynamics at play:
Recommended Video:
Recommended Product:
Sis, The World Isn’t Your Enemy. You’re Battling Anxiety. A Journal for Strong Black Women
Recommended Reading:
5 Hidden Signs You Might Now Know About the “Flight” Response
4 Fear Responses: “Fight”, “Flight”, “Freeze”, and “Fawn” in Movies
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4 TYPES OF
Fear Responses
Fight Response
Flight Response
Freeze Response
Fawn Response
Reaching out for help is always essential.
If you are worried about your mental or physical state or both, be sure to make yourself a priority. Our therapists at Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services can aid in rooting the underlying causes of these overwhelming feelings.