Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn Worksheet Overview
Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn are four automatic ways your body can respond when it senses danger. Walter Cannon described fight or flight, researchers later added freeze, and therapist Pete Walker added fawn, the urge to please or give in to stay safe. The four responses are a helpful model for understanding your reactions, not a diagnosis.
This worksheet describes each response, helps you notice the ones you use most and what sets them off, and gives you simple ways to settle your body once the danger has passed.
In this worksheet, we’ll:
- Explain the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses
- Help you notice which responses show up for you
- Provide space to explore what sets off your responses
- Share simple ways to come back to calm
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our worksheets. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
-
Cannon, W. B. (1915). Bodily Changes in Pain, Hunger, Fear and Rage. D. Appleton and Company.
-
Bracha, H. S. (2004). Freeze, flight, fight, fright, faint: Adaptationist perspectives on the acute stress response spectrum. CNS Spectrums, 9(9), 679-685.
-
Walker, P. (2013). Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. Azure Coyote.
Therapist Directory at Psychology.com Find a licensed therapist near you on the Psychology.com directory. Many therapists accept insurance, offer in-person and online appointments, and have immediate availability. List Your Practice on Psychology.com Psychology.com is the therapist directory from the team behind ChoosingTherapy.com. List your practice with your first 30 days free, then $49 a month. Cancel any time.
Related Worksheets
