5 Signs You’re In Survival Mode (And How To Get Out Of It)

Survival mode is our brain’s response when it perceives there is danger around us, even if nothing is happening. Survival mode can also tell us when we’re ignoring our brain’s cry for help for too long. Do you relate to these signs?

Writer: Brie Cerniglia
Script Editor: Denise Ding, Dawn Tan & Kelly Soong
Script Manager: Kelly Soong
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

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Shorts: @psych2goshort
Storytelling: @WholesomeAnimationbypsych2go

REFERENCES

Der, V. (2014). The body keeps the score: brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.

[HopeIsntDead]

1: You're able to sleep in bed
2: Hostile mobs walk towards you
3: You have limited resources
4: You're able to take damage
5: Flying is not an option
Bonus: How to play survival mode

[joshuacarre]

0:45 You're skipping out on pieces of your daily routine
1:23 You're ignoring your basic needs
2:02 You go with the flow way Too much
3:06 You get Anxious with similar types of events
3:55 You're exhausted but aren't sure why
4:26 tips to handle survival mode

[bryanmiller]

As a veteran, “survivor mode” simply becomes the presetting, coping mechanism when you’ve experienced enough in life to know the everything is unstable, & can change instantly, in the blink of an eye.

[yohaizilber]

With ADHD I can't even separate survival mode from regular my ADHD symptoms, but great information, we all needs a bit of hope and encouragement to pull through...

[endlesswonderland]

Her voice and the animation really make me forget my stress for a few minutes....so soothing.

[eggsberts]

can we just appreciate how consistent and how often they upload? its absolutely ridiculous (in a good way!) i hope everyone is well rested, eats well and has a good week. thank you so much for this channel, i hope you guys never feel pressured to upload so much on any given day as the amount is just amazing as well as you never sacrifice quality. <3 thank you for everything.

[LevelheadedMind]

Survivor mode can be a result of chronic stress, burnout, acute trauma or stored trauma. Either way, if you're experiencing this, please seek the help of a mental health professional. 🙏

[emanuelmontes]

wow, I cried after doing the breathing technique. so much time just nonstop anxiety and feeling depressed and stressed. all got released with a breath. thank you. you really helped me

[Victoria-Vixen]

One of the issues of "survival mode" with me is transforming from someone who was super emotional and in touch with my feelings, to going through a surge of traumatic experiences within a months span; thus, causing me to feel nothing. At all.
With the numbness and constant "gotta do this. Okay done. Next thing. Okay, done. Sleep. Okay done. Drive. Okay done." Etc.
I went from having extreme existential anxiety to feeling zero fear. From codependent to independently reckless. With no care of the world or any care to whatever may happen.

This almost makes me feel alienated in my own body. I'm entirely numb and I cannot get out of it. However I'm getting so much done, for once. Though all this work doesn't change the way I perceive myself. It's just shifted how my walls have risen and not even my own self can understand what's going on behind them.

Sorry if this doesn't make ANY sense, I'm just rambling. Thanks for these videos.

[JROC]

As someone who was in survival mode for a few years I can say this video is spot on.

Find help and support, but be wary of replacing one abusive relationship with another.

[Z_Phoenixplayz]

Checking myself and realizing I haven't drank any water, eaten breakfast, and ignored my I got some breakfast with water and tried to think about my emotions. I've been in survival mode a lot recently. I have reached out and got some therapy. But thank you for the reminder to drink water and eat something. I just broke it off with a friend and I've been ignoring the sadness. So thank you for reminding me to think about my emotions and take care of myself! Thank you <3

[chisaten]

I like how this has tips of how to deal with things instead of only listing symptoms.

[BCSchmerker]

+Psych2go *Thanks for the list of symptoms of survival mode:*

0:42 (1) Failure of routines
1:22 (2) Failure to meet basic needs
2:01 (3) People-pleasing
3:05 (4) Anxiety
3:54 (5) Burnout

*Mitigations:*
4:28 (1) Stop and breathe
4:59 (2) Check yourself
5:41 (3) Move
6:07 (4) Ask for help when needed

[akusuaakoto]

Adding to the ignoring your basic needs part, I think it's important to make note that for those of us that came from traumatic situations as children, we did not choose to ignore our basic needs, that was already happening from our caregivers and so what that informed us was that we did not deserve to have those basic needs met or if they were met every once in awhile we should be falling to our knees and being so grateful. Also for people that have been in domestic violence situations where you are being abused and controlled, it's not so easy trying to figure out how to meet your basic needs because that may require you to ask your abuser for permission say to take a long bath or money to buy much needed hair products so there's a lot of gray area that goes into this that people don't consider.

[NexLegacyAccount]

I've been trapped in survival mode for the past year and a half. Moved into a situation that reminds me way too much of my childhood home, and my relationship turned emotionally abusive. Writing a cover letter and getting a job has felt like a herculean task lately and I can't shake the constant feeling of dread...Having ADHD on top of this is really unhelpful, since all that feels safe to do is chase dopamine all day.

[goldgrasshoppernein]

Wow this is me, i really hope everyone here is doing ok. I believe in you. Stay determined!

[PlanetYokoshima]

I got this 24/7 :( especially when I work wherever it is I went because of the trauma of bullying, this as well as my long and tragic story that forces me not to be able to talk to people.... this is exactly what I need.

[SomeGuy-gczs]

The modern world definitely has distorted "danger." Just last night, I was big dumb and did something I myself am constantly warning other people not to do. I approached an unknown animal that I was only like 60% sure was a dog. You should never approach a wild animal OR a strange dog, and yet there I was. My brain will recognize other humans, people I've known for years, as threats even though I know they aren't, but doesn't have the same immediate response with wild animals, environmental hazards, or even moving vehicles, even though I consciously know that any of those things could kill me. I'm more frightened of everyday occurrences like talking to strangers than I am of stuff that could eat me.

[amyhoover]

This video is something I feel like I could have used sooner when I was still working full-time as a cashier. Physically, I was there with both feet walking like normal, but mentally and emotionally, I was falling apart. My last day there was about a week ago on Saturday, and when I return, it'll just be as a part-timer. Thank you for the valuable content! 💖

[Roguefem]

This is scarily well-timed for me, but very valuable information. Thank you for it!