Eight survival strategies in traumatic stress.

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in its fourth criterion relies on the consequences of fight and flight survival responses. However, this limits understanding of a much wider variety of stress responses from other survival strategies. Information from a variety of disciplines suggests eight survival strategies including fight and flight. The anatomy, physiology, cognitions, emotions, and social expressions of these strategies are described in animals, and human infants and adults. A wider variety of survival strategies enriches conceptualization of PTSD and apparent comorbid phenomena.