The concept of a healer experiencing the primal responses of fight, flight, or freeze describes how individuals in caregiving roles, often exposed to high-stress situations and secondary trauma, can react to challenging circumstances. For example, a therapist continually exposed to clients’ traumatic experiences might unconsciously adopt one of these responses: becoming overly assertive and confrontational (fight), emotionally detaching and avoiding difficult cases (flight), or feeling overwhelmed and unable to act effectively (freeze). These reactions are natural survival mechanisms, but can hinder a healer’s ability to provide effective care and maintain personal well-being.
Understanding these responses is crucial for both healers and those who support them. Recognizing these instinctive reactions allows for the development of coping mechanisms and strategies to mitigate their impact. Historically, the emotional toll on healers has often been overlooked. Addressing this now contributes to more sustainable and compassionate care practices, benefiting both the caregiver and those receiving care. This awareness fosters resilience and prevents burnout, ultimately leading to more effective and empathetic healing environments.
