I used to be very reactive to situations. A loud noise, a passing comment, or even a minor inconvenience could easily disturb my peace, causing me stress and activating what is known as the fight-or-flight response (Freeze and Fawn), a key part of the brain’s survival mode in psychology.
As I began my healing journey, I discovered that people who experience childhood trauma are more likely to rely on their lower brain, which governs survival instincts. Trauma can cause the brain’s stress response system to become hyperactive, leading to heightened reactivity even in everyday situations. This explains why I often found myself feeling easily offended or triggered.
When the lower brain takes over, it overrides the higher brain, responsible for logical thinking and decision-making. Instead of responding rationally, the brain reacts instinctively to perceived threats. This is not a flaw but a protective mechanism designed to ensure survival. However, living in this constant state of reactivity makes it difficult to find peace or maintain a sense of calm.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to heal and for the love and support I received along the way. Through this process, I have gained clarity about my past and can now see why I was so easily upset and triggered before. Living in survival mode was exhausting and left me feeling perpetually stressed and disconnected from joy.
If I could go back and speak to my younger self, I would say, "You are no longer in danger now. The world you feel is not the world as it truly is. It feels threatening because your brain is trying to protect you. But the truth is, the world is also full of love and beauty. If you let your guard down and approach life with curiosity, you’ll discover there is so much more than you realize. You are safe now, and you don’t have to live in survival mode anymore."
Healing has taught me that trauma shapes our responses, but it does not have to define who we are or how we live. By stepping out of survival mode and into a place of love and trust, I have been able to rediscover peace and see the beauty in the world once again.
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