The Animal Within: How Our Primal Brain Guides Trauma Recovery

At the core of our being lies the reptilian brain, the seat of primal instincts that have ensured survival for millions of years. This ancient brain governs fight, flight, and freeze responses that activate when danger threatens.

Imagine a native tracker moving through the wilderness, alert to every subtle cue. This heightened awareness exemplifies the orienting response—a reflexive, coordinated attention to new stimuli shared by all animals, including humans.

Trauma can freeze or hijack these instinctual responses, leaving us disconnected and vulnerable. Healing requires reconnecting with these primal rhythms, honoring the biological cycles that guide energy flow and recovery.

Animals in the wild demonstrate fluidity and precision in their responses, shifting seamlessly between alertness and calm. By embracing our animal nature, we tap into this wisdom, restoring balance and vitality.

Understanding the neuroscience behind trauma illuminates the path forward, where body and brain work together to heal and transform.

In the next blog, we will discuss practical first aid strategies that honor these principles, helping prevent lasting trauma in the critical moments after an event.