Why Didn’t I Fight Back?
Understanding Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn with a Therapist
Please note: our content contains sensitive discussions of childhood sexual abuse.
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Have you ever asked yourself, “Why didn’t I run? Why didn’t I fight back?” I’ve asked myself this for years and for a long time, I believed it meant I couldn’t trust myself. But the truth? My body wasn’t betraying me. It was protecting me. In this video, I sit down with therapist Emilia to break down the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses. She explains what these survival instincts really mean and I share how learning this completely changed the way I see myself. If you’ve ever carried shame about how you reacted in a traumatic moment, I want you to know you are not alone. Understanding these responses might help you see yourself in a new light too.
Connect with Emilia
Emilia Pacholec is psychotherapist based in Toronto. She began her career working with patients experiencing Borderline Personality Disorder and later focused on adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She brings an evidence-based approach along with a down-to-earth understanding of the complexities of trauma.