March 21, 2025

29. The Five F’s - how trauma affects the brain and body

18 minutes

Welcome back to The EMDR Doctor Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Caroline Lloyd dives into the fascinating world of trauma and the body’s instinctive responses. From the fight-or-flight reaction to the lesser-known ‘Flop’ response, she breaks down how our brains and bodies work in high-stress situations.

She also unpacks how EMDR therapy helps rewire the brain—moving traumatic memories out of the fear center and into long-term storage, making them less distressing. If you've ever wondered why certain triggers set off intense emotions or how EMDR actually works on a biological level, this episode is for you!

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

The 5 trauma responses (Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn, Flop) and how they affect the body.

How trauma impacts brain function and can impair memory storage.

Why dissociation happens and why some people have memory gaps after trauma.

The physiological impact of EMDR—how it moves traumatic memories from the amygdala to long-term storage.

How EMDR therapy helps people feel safer, more present, and less triggered in daily life.

Key Highlights:

Fight or Flight kicks in before we’re even aware of danger—our brain reacts before we consciously register a threat!

Trauma changes the way we hear sound—our ears become more attuned to survival noises like growling and screaming while filtering out normal speech.

The “Please & Appease” response (aka Fawn)—why some trauma survivors struggle with people-pleasing behaviors.

Flop is the brain’s emergency shut-off switch—when all else fails, the body shuts down completely as a last survival mechanism.

EMDR actually changes the brain—brain scans show trauma memories lighting up different areas before and after EMDR therapy.

After EMDR, life feels lighter—stress hormones decrease, emotional reactions soften, and triggers lose their power.

Resources Mentioned:

Dr. Lloyd’s Heal Your Past online EMDR program – Register at emdrdoctor.com.au/heal

Research on PTSD treatments and why EMDR is faster and more effective than traditional talk therapy for trauma

Contact and Feedback:

Thinking about trying EMDR for PTSD? Reach out to Dr. Lloyd at emdrdoctor.com.au.

Note: This podcast provides general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalised recommendations.

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By Dr Caroline Lloyd

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