Stress Type: Fawn

The fourth and final in our series of stress types deals with the Fawn reaction.

Read about what these automatic stress reactions are and explore the first three types (Fight, Flight and Freeze) here.

An automatic fawn reaction can serve as a mechanism for escaping stress by people-pleasing. Pacifying behaviors may diffuse conflict and instead seek to bring approval. Common behaviors associated with this reaction may be to:

• agree to whatever your partner asks of you, even if you’d rather not

• constantly praise a manager in hope of avoiding criticism or negative feedback

• avoid sharing your thoughts/feelings in close relationships for fear of making others angry

• have few, if any, boundaries around your own needs

Fawn: Skillful Response to Practice

There are two practices that can be effective in mitigating a fawn stress reaction. The first involves generating self-compassion through loving kindness meditation. From the place of calmness that arises from the practice, spend a few moments in reflective journaling to separate what feelings belong to you and what belong to another people.

A second practice can be to consciously observe yourself when you are interacting with others. Make note mentally of what sensations are arising in your body, what emotions you are feeling and the content of your thoughts. This can add in buffering time to notice the tendency to engage in fawning behavior, and make another choice that feels more skillful to you.

Why is knowing your stress type practical and useful?

Most of us can relate to more than one of the types described in this series. Understanding the circumstances which trigger your stress reactions enables you to interact more powerfully with them. Greater awareness can help you identify how stress is impacting your behavior and open the space for a more skillful response.

Ultimately it can provide an important key to mitigating the negative impact of stress on your health and your relationships.

Try practicing the skillful responses offered when you notice yourself behaving as one of the stress types, and see how it works for you.

Let your wisdom lead,

Robin

P.S.

I’m heading to Spain next week! Follow along on my journey on Instagram

@mindfuladventures_elcamino