Rewiring the Alarm

Can We Change Our Threat Response?

Short answer: Yes, you can change how you respond to stress and threat.

Long answer: It takes work, awareness, and the willingness to dig into your patterns. But it is possible, and it’s worth it.

The Six Fs: How We Survive

Everyone has a trauma response. The original research spoke of fight and flight, but as our understanding grew, more “F’s” were added:

Fight: Meet threat with aggression—attack first, ask later.
Flight: Escape. Put as much distance between you and the threat as possible.
Freeze: Shut down. Go silent, immobile, lost in your head.
Fawn: Please and appease. Endear yourself to the attacker, often seen in abusive relationships.
Flop: Collapse, faint, or go limp. This is freeze taken to the extreme—body checks out to survive.
Fine: The most insidious. After the event, you go numb, in denial, telling yourself and the world: “I’m fine.” This one can leave deep, hidden wounds, especially in grief.

As WebMD explains, these are primal, automatic—coded in our DNA to keep us alive when our ancestors faced lions or disasters. The threat could be physical, emotional, or mental. Your body can’t tell the difference; it just reacts.

Where Does It Come From?

You aren’t born knowing how to respond—your “default” is shaped by lived and witnessed experience. Maybe it’s your own trauma, maybe you learned it from parents or caregivers.
For me?
When an argument feels like a personal attack, I freeze. Not by choice. My mind races with comebacks, but my mouth and body lock down. Over time, my body learned that shutting down was the safest response. If that’s you too, you’re not broken. You’re surviving.

The Good News: You Can Change

Neuroplasticity—our brain’s ability to rewire itself—means you aren’t stuck with your default forever.
Hypnotherapy, breathwork, somatic practices, and deep self-awareness can all retrain your nervous system’s “alarm.”
In hypnotherapy, we work together to spot your patterns, then rewire and teach your subconscious new ways to cope. Sometimes, we go back and process old memories, changing the lessons learned from them.

Stoic wisdom also helps: Focus on what you can control. When you find even a sliver of calm in a crisis, your logical mind comes back online. You can choose—not just react.

Practical Tools (WebMD Recommends):

Mental grounding:
- Notice your surroundings
- Recite a poem or affirmation
- Remind yourself: “I am safe.”
- Play a mind game (alphabet, numbers, etc.)
Physical grounding:
- Slow, steady breaths
- Hold an object tight
- Plant your feet, feel the earth
- Tense and slowly release your muscles
Soothing grounding:
- Picture your happy place
- Treat yourself gently
- Use coping statements or positive affirmations

These work, but they’re not magic on their own. It’s better to treat the cause, not just the symptoms.
Journaling is a powerful tool:
Sit quietly, breathe, and write whatever memories come up—no filter, no pressure to make sense. Do it daily. Over time, you’ll see patterns, spot triggers, and learn where your responses come from.

There’s No “Wrong” Way to Survive

There’s nothing wrong with having a trauma response—it’s part of your design. But the way you respond does matter. You can’t solve every problem with a fist, a freeze, or a smile.
Therapy, self-awareness, and even a moment’s pause can help you choose the response that serves you best. Sometimes, after reflection, the “fight” is the best answer. But now, you choose it consciously, not automatically.

Invitation

As a hypnotherapist, I’d love to work with you on reshaping your responses—so you can live freer, braver, and more at peace with your world.
It’s not easy, but it’s possible.
You survived for a reason. Now let’s teach your mind and body how to thrive.

You are not your trauma. You’re the author of your next response. So go—rewrite the story. And if you need a guide, you know where to find me.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult with a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.

Curious about how hypnotherapy can support your transformation?
Use the contact form below to reach out, and let’s explore how we can work together to help you become the version of yourself you know is waiting to emerge.