By: Angela Espinoza

Living in Survival Mode

Do you believe that you have been living in survival mode? If so, what might this be a result of? Living in survival mode comes as an impact of experiencing high levels of stress throughout our life for long periods of time. The sources of these levels of stress may come from various domains of our functioning and living. The state of survival mode prevents us from living out to our fullest potential. It is a physical and mental state of being that can make us feel really small and limited in how we carry ourselves to the rest of the world.

Like a flower that eventually turns dry and loses its vibrancy, we too, become limited in our capacities to adapt and manage different situations that arise when we are impacted by high levels of stress that have caused us to live in constant survival mode.

The Compass of Survival Mode

Living in survival mode can over time reveal to us our most vulnerable parts and the intricacies of our fears and trauma. Just like we are able to notice intricate parts of nature like the veins of a leaf as it ages, we may also be able to recognize the ways in which our body and mind wear and tear due to the impact of long-term stress that has resulted in survival mode.

There are unique signs that may indicate the possibility that we are living in survival mode. Some of these can be:

• Feeling constantly on edge and in a state of fear
• Feeling the need to immediately find a solution/s or a way out of an uncomfortable situation
• Avoiding certain people, situations, and/or physical settings
• Shutting down emotionally and mentally
• Self-sabotage as a means of hurting one’s own feelings first before another person does so
• Persistent and high-functioning anxiety

Important to note is that there is no one unique life event that leads to living in survival mode, as often, high levels and periods of prolonged stress stem from different life events at various points in our life. Some examples of occurrences in our life that may lead to living in survival mode include:

• Childhood trauma
• Experiencing abuse and/or neglect
• Developing an anxious or avoidant attachment style
• An incident that led to physical pain/suffering and injury
• Instability and harmful spontaneity experienced in childhood; having had no safety and security due to problems in childhood home and with family of origin
• Unstable and problematic relationships that were sustained for long periods of time
• Excessive and persistent worries about illness and the safety of loved ones due to a past history of traumatic events

Allow Time to Find Healing from Survival Mode

You deserve to find healing within the mental and physiological states that prevent you from living authentically. When our body and mind have been in survival mode for so long, seeking safety and rest might not feel attainable, and we may be in plentiful discomfort when we do seek them. Hypervigilance is not a state that our bodies are designed to be in; therefore, we must allow our healing approach to take its course and its time.

Some healing approaches for the body and mind might include:

• Finding a safe space and allowing yourself to be there for a certain period of time daily or consistently
• Seeking gentle exposure to perceived threats in tolerable and safe levels
• Allowing time for comprehension and reflection of the natural tendencies we take when we feel threatened and in danger (e.g., avoidance)
• Self-soothing using the five senses to find grounding in the present moment
• Allowing yourself to feel relieved, cared for, loved, and heard by initiating these acts of kindness for yourself or receiving them from others
• Reassuring yourself and/or allow yourself to be reassured by others that you are okay and safe in your environment

Finding Relief from Stress

Because our life is intertwined with a variety of social, physical, and emotional systems, stress is not a factor that can be easily escaped. It is within our nature to experience stress. However, when prolonged stress has resulted in living in survival mode, this deserves our intention to heal. You deserve to live your life to its fullest potential, letting yourself enjoy all of the good parts without high-functioning fear and anxiety taking over. With time, we can find ways to allow our body and mind to find true serenity if we let ourselves become curious and explore how living in survival mode has impacted our lives. 

---

Begin Therapy in Austin, TX!

Looking to learn more about how to better understand living in survival mode and how to find healing from it? Safe Space Healing Collective can help! We provide mental health counseling, as well as other mental health services. To begin counseling in Austin, TX follow these three steps:

• Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more information.
• Meet with one of our knowledgeable therapists.
• Start feeling more seen, heard, and understood!

Other Therapy Services We Offer: 

Here at Safe Space Healing Collective, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including Complex PTSD, PTSD, Attachment Trauma, Somatic Trauma Work, LGBTQIA+ Mental Health, Identity Exploration, Dissociation, Women’s Issues, Adolescent Issues, Anxiety, Depression, Troubled Childhood, Exploring Sexuality & Gender Expression, Blended Families, Healthy Communication & Conflict Resolution, Relationship Issues, Personal Growth, Life Transitions, Grief & Loss, Family Estrangement, Death & Dying, Career Transitions, Problems at Work & School, Interrupted Sleep/Insomnia. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. To learn more about our therapists and our counseling services, please reach out to the Healing Collective today!