THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST Survival Mode: Decoding Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn in the Neurodivergent Children & Teens
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May 7, 2025 Dive into the fascinating dynamics of survival responses—fight, flight, freeze, and fawn—within neurodivergent children and teens. Discover how these instinctual reactions can help us understand their challenging behaviors as protective mechanisms. Learn practical strategies for emotional regulation and fostering safety, along with the vital role of co-regulation in transforming struggles into growth opportunities. This insightful discussion arms parents, educators, and therapists with the tools to support neurodivergent youth effectively.
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Chronic Hyperarousal in Neurodivergence
- Neurodivergent individuals often have a nervous system on high alert with chronic hyperarousal.
- Their baseline stress is elevated, making regulation transitions harder compared to neurotypical peers.
Dumpster Jump: Powerful Fight Response
- Holly once reacted by running and jumping headfirst into a dumpster, mistaking a wig for a person.
- This illustrates how powerful and instinctual our nervous system fight response is, beyond logic or control.
Flight Response to Sensory Overload
- An eight-year-old Mia fled a chaotic birthday party, crawling under a table to escape sensory overload.
- This flight response was an instinctive nervous system protection, not a behavioral choice.