The human brain is rational and intuitive. When you are exposed to danger or traumatic events, the intuitive side takes over. It does what it needs to do to survive. The brain has five instinctive reactions:
- Fight
- Flight
- Freeze
- Flop
- Be-friend
Your mind will choose the reaction that is most likely to lead to survival and the least harm. It doesn’t think about how you will feel after. During rape or abuse, the first two options often aren’t possible. They may lead to further physical or mental harm from the abuser. The last three options are very common as they expose the survivor to the least danger.
If there is a safe outcome (survival), the brain learns to use that reaction again. Sometimes, this response can be used repeatedly to less and less risky situations. This can lead to a heightened state of awareness of risk, or to a feeling of numbness.
The hormones released during these processes can also affect the part of your brain that is responsible for memory. This can become too much and stop you from being able to access memories or associate them with a time or a place.
