What are the 4 D's of trauma?

The 4-D model is a psychological framework that classifies symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a mental health condition that can develop after exposure to trauma. However, some individuals may experience trauma without developing PTSD, highlighting the complex nature of trauma and how it affects everyone differently ( 17 ). Here is how the 4-D model categorizes symptoms of PTSD into 4 dimensions of consciousness ( 18 ): Time: Experiencing traumatic flashbacks or reliving intrusive memories Thought: Negative thought patterns about one’s identity and self-worth Body: Feeling detached from one’s body or overly aroused during stress Emotion: Emotional dysregulation including numbness and shutting down

What is the difference between flight and freeze trauma responses?

Both flight and freeze trauma responses are ways of avoiding stress or danger, but they manifest differently. Fight or flight examples are characterized by heightened physiological arousal, with the flight response often leading you to escape the situation rather than confronting it to avoid potential conflict ( 7 ). On the other hand, the freeze response occurs when a person feels immobilized or unable to act, often becoming physically still or mentally dissociated as a result of overwhelming stress ( 8 ).

What are common triggers for fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses?

Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are all trauma responses that are triggered in situations where you sense danger, threat, or overpowering stress ( 1 ). Challenges that may lead to such responses could be, and are not limited to: adverse personal experiences, relationship difficulties, work pressure, family conflict, and other life events that cause overwhelming distress ( 3 , 19 ).