---
title: School trauma and the fight, flight, freeze response
description: Seeing your child struggle in school can trigger a lot of stress, especially if you struggled in school too. Watch this video to hear Dr. Monica Johnson explain the fight, flight, freeze response.
slug: school-trauma-fight-flight
author: The Understood Team
published: '2024-02-05T15:06:42.322Z'
date_modified: '2024-02-05T00:00:00.000-08:00'
source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-trauma-fight-flight
lang: en
---

# School trauma and the fight, flight, freeze response

If you’ve had tough experiences in the past, situations that remind you of those times can hit you hard. Listen to Dr. Monica Johnson talk about how you might react in one of three ways: fighting, fleeing, or freezing. Then, think about these questions and tips below: 

- Can you think of any school-related situations where you experienced fight, flight/avoid, or freeze responses? 
- Intense responses often have physical signs — tight muscles, sweaty palms, a racing heart. How does your body respond when you’re feeling stressed? 
- When big emotions hit, try [mindfulness techniques](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/mindfulness-techniques-stress) like taking deep breaths or going for a quick walk. These techniques can help you slow down and untangle your feelings. 

This is the second video in a series. To start from the beginning, [watch the first video](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-trauma-big-feelings). 

Ready to learn more? [Watch the next video](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-pushes-your-buttons) in the series.

---

## Explore related topics and articles

- [Resources for parents coping with their own difficult school experiences](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/resources-for-parents-coping-with-their-own-difficult-school-experiences) - In the final episode of our Parenting Problems series, Dr. Monica Johnson reviews what we’ve learned and offers resources to help you continue your journey. Check it out!
- [School was hard for me. Now my child is struggling, and it’s bringing up a lot.](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/school-trauma-big-feelings) - If you had a difficult time in school, seeing your child struggle in similar ways can be tough. It can bring up big feelings, and make it harder for you to help yourself — and your child. Find out why from Dr. Monica Johnson. 
- [What pushes your buttons? ](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/what-pushes-your-buttons) - Your child’s school struggles can instantly take you back to the emotions you felt when you were in school. In this video, Dr. Monica Johnson talks about how to spot your “button pushers” or triggers.  

---

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