The fight-flight-freeze response is your body’s natural alarm system—a powerful, built-in mechanism designed to protect you when you feel unsafe. It’s a stress response that triggers hormonal and physiological changes, enabling you to fight, flee, or freeze in the face of danger. But what happens when this response is activated by something that isn’t a real threat, but a memory buried deep within?

Sometimes, the body reacts not to present circumstances but to echoes of the past. When current-day situations remind us—often unconsciously—of events from years ago, our fight-flight-freeze response can be triggered. Even if we don’t consciously remember the original event, our subconscious holds onto that memory, ready to spring into action to keep us safe. It’s as if your body is saying, “I’ve seen this before, and I’m not taking any chances.”

But here’s the catch: if that original fear or panic wasn’t fully processed or “discharged,” your body may still carry it like an invisible weight. As a result, you might find yourself reacting to today’s triggers as though the past is happening all over again. A co-worker’s sharp tone might make your heart race, or a certain smell might leave you inexplicably anxious—because your body remembers, even if your mind doesn’t.

This survival mechanism is an incredible gift when we’re children navigating overwhelming or unsafe situations. For instance, dissociation—a state of mentally “checking out”—can help a child endure events that feel too big, too frightening to face. However, what was adaptive in childhood can become frustratingly maladaptive in adulthood. Dissociation, heightened reactivity, or feeling “stuck” in a state of fear may leave you struggling to engage fully with life.

If you find yourself easily triggered or unable to move past a state of fight, flight, or freeze, it’s not a sign of weakness—it’s a sign your body is still trying to protect you. But you don’t have to stay stuck. Therapy, especially modalities that work with the body as well as the mind, can help you reconnect with yourself, process unresolved fears, and release the grip of past trauma.

Healing is possible. By understanding and working with your body’s natural responses, you can create a pathway toward safety, resilience, and peace. It’s not about “getting over” the past; it’s about giving your body and mind the space to finally let go. You deserve to feel fully alive, present, and free.