![]() ![]() The child may also neglect their own feelings, opinions, wants, and needs in an attempt to keep the abuser appeased and unbothered. In essence, the child aims to keep the abuser happy and appeased so that they don’t become abusive again. A child who has been abused may learn to fawn to avoid any further abuse, such as physical violence, sexual abuse, or verbal abuse. Fawning often first develops in early childhood when a traumatic event has been perpetrated by a parent or primary caregiver, explains Walker. This response involves changing our behaviour or holding back on our opinions and desires in order to please another person, and in an attempt to avoid any conflict. We may fawn, or people-please, to appease another person a potential source of threat and danger. Walker coined the term ‘fawning’ to describe what he observed to be a fourth type of response to threat, along with fight, flight, and freeze. The above is taken from psychotherapist Pete Walker’s Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving. They act as if they unconsciously believe that the price of admission to any relationship is the forfeiture of all their needs, rights, preferences, and boundaries.” “Fawn types seek safety by merging with the wishes, needs, and demands of others. One of these types is people-pleasing, or ‘fawning’. ![]() ![]() These symptoms are still an issue, and if we don’t identify and address them they may continue to disrupt our lives. However, some of the more subtle trauma responses don’t receive as much attention as the common, well-known responses. Anxiety relates to the symptoms of hypervigilance and fear that follow the ‘fight or flight’ response to traumatic experiences. This may be done through substance abuse, disordered eating, or high-risk behaviour.ĭepression as a trauma symptom relates to the emotional shut-down of the nervous system that happens after it has been overwhelmed by a real or perceived potential threat. Traumatic memories are typically difficult to deal with until the trauma is resolved, so many survivors engage in ‘avoidance’ behavioural methods of suppressing or temporarily alleviating their intrusive and disturbing thoughts and memories. Substance use, depression, and anxiety are all examples of some obvious responses to trauma. Its symptoms can be obvious at times, and subtle at others. ![]()
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