#stress-responses

#stress-responses

Scroll through any wellness feed, and you might notice the same whiplash-inducing pattern. Dissociation is either a dangerous sign of pathology or "a protective intelligence that deserves reverence." Trauma responses are framed as evidence of brokenness or badges of resilience. Anxiety is either a disorder to eliminate or an intuition to honor. We've flattened the rich, complex reality of the nervous system into a binary: demonize or romanticize. But neither extreme helps us understand ourselves-or decide when we actually need support.

"The 'four F's' ― fight, flight, freeze and fawn ― refer to automatic nervous system responses to a perceived threat," Caitlyn Oscarson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told HuffPost. "These are ingrained responses that can show up in traumatic situations, as well as everyday stress and overwhelm."

For many people, the holidays are described as joyful, festive, and full. For those in eating disorder recovery, they can also be complicated, emotionally charged, and exhausting. From Thanksgiving through New Year's Eve, food is everywhere, routines are disrupted, bodies are on display in photos, and cultural messages about indulgence and "starting over" grow louder by the day. Even when moments are meaningful or joyful, they can coexist with heightened anxiety, body image distress, and a sense of emotional overload.