Seeing Behaviors as a Stress Response
In the midst of the global crisis that is the pandemic COVID-19, I’m so grateful I can see behaviors through the lens of the stress response. Mine. And others.
Otherwise, it would be pretty easy to be confused, baffled, and frankly, a bit (or even a lot) judgy judgy.
Unless you are one minute old, every single experience you are having in every single moment is being filtered through every single experience you’ve ever had in every single previous moment.
And because of those experiences, we all have our default stress response.
Some of us become ostrich’s and bury our heads.
Some of us become possum’s and literally fall asleep.
Some of us become lions and wage a full on attack.
Some of us become road runners and get the heck outta dodge.
Many of us have all of these little critters living inside of us and have seen of those glorious protectors come out and various times in the last week.
The commitment to understanding the neurobiology of being human…the understanding that there is no such thing as maladaptive; that regulated, connected people who feel safe behave well; that connection is a biological imperative;
The commitment to the neurobiology of being human is more important than ever.
Because the by-product of understanding the neurobiology of being human is compassion.
It’s easy for me to move into a place of panic. I’m as human as everyone else. But when I allow myself to move back into my beliefs about what it means to be human, I notice a swell of compassion and then I notice a swell of rest.
We need as many moments of rest in our nervous system as absolutely possible.
Understanding the neurobiology of being human is as much for our own good as it is for the good of everyone else.
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Robyn Gobbel, LCSW, RPT-S is a blogger, teacher, trainer, and consultant for therapists and professionals working with children with a history of complex trauma.
- Grieving as a Parent with a History of Trauma: Part 6 of 6 {EP 255} - March 3, 2026
- Identifying Your Triggers as a Parent with a History of Trauma: Part 5 of 6 {EP 254} - February 24, 2026
- Caring for your Own Watchdog & Possum as a Parent with a History of Trauma: Part 4 of 6 {EP 253} - February 17, 2026
