What is the Collapse/Submit Response?

Fainting Goats, flop over when their Nervous System is overwhelmed, this is another way to describe the Collapse or "flop" response.

Our nervous system responds instinctively to trauma and stress, and we often don’t feel we have a choice when our Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) answers to threatening situations. This stress-induced response can include a reaction to perceived threat (even when there may not be a threat present). Our trauma responses including the collapse response can often show up to try to help us get our needs met and feel safe. Even if the response is 'overworking' or doesn't feel appropriate to the situation.

Often we hear about the Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn response, but the discussion around the Submit/Collapse Response can be neglected. Despite many people experiencing this response and normalizing this response (think about the culture we live in, and chronic burnout!). An example may be working hard all week on auto-pilot and then when the weekend comes you feel like you don't have the energy to get off the couch.

Categorizing Stress: Hyper and hypoarousal are the two dysregulated states of the autonomic nervous system. These states are connected to the Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn/Fold(Collapse/Submit) response. “Fight & Flight” are states of hyperarousal, “Freeze” is a split response, and “Fawn/Fold” is a state of hypoarousal.  The collapse/submit response is a hypoarousal state, also known as “Flop,” “Fold,” or “Feign Death.”

The opossum is the most common visual example of the Collapse/Submit response. The opossum is, in fact, not “playing dead” because this is not an act. Opossums are also able to run away or fight, but when they experience a surprise or unexpected threat, they involuntarily enter a catatonic state. This picture of the Collapse/Submit trauma response is often considered "the defense response of last resort." The Collapse/Submit trauma response is known as “feign death, fold, or flop.” 

The collapse response is for survival.

 If you experience the Collapse/Submit response as a dominant state, this is not a bad response, you may not 'want to respond this way' however this is how the nervous system feels most safe responding at the time of stress. This response is a way that the nervous system handles chronic, inescapable trauma and stress situations. Our nervous system’s job is to keep us safe. Sometimes safe becomes just “safe enough” when in survival mode.

In a moment of trauma, this collapse response can be a defense which can lessen our experience of pain. But after the trauma has passed, these adaptations typically interfere with a healthy life. Think about chronic burnout. Physical impacts include low muscle tone, chronic fatigue, and shallow breath.

The Collapse/Submit Response can show up as:

• Auto-pilot

  Taking action without focusing or without thinking about what is happening.

• Detachment from Body

  Being unable to recognize body's experience, body cues, and needs. Pain threshold increases.

• Numbness

  Being unable to feel anything in a particular part of your body or lacking emotion, being emotionally disconnected.

• Dissociation

  Dissociation is a mental process of disconnecting from one's thoughts, feelings, memories or sense of identity.

• Compliance

  Cooperation regardless of values or agreement. 

• Abandoning your Values

  Appeasement regardless of values.

• Desire to Isolate

  Avoidance of all people including close community, family, or friends. This may be due to 'not having the energy' to be social.

• Lack of Boundaries

  Difficulty with others influencing how to think, act, and feel. It also means you tend to spend your time and energy doing what others want you to do, over what you deep down want to do. You may be disconnected and feel 'indifferent' to what you want.

• Helplessness

  A state of lack of control over thougths, feelings, outcome, enviornment, etc.

• Treatment Resistant Depression

  It may be difficult to experience movement in therapy (this will be very slow and often feel 'worse' before we feel better because we need to feel something).

• Chronic Burnout

  A state of burnout or lack of energy.

• Energy Restriction

  Feeling like we don't have energy to give even in areas we once enjoyed.

What’s the difference between Rest & Collapse?

Many people confuse rest states and collapsed states.

Rest and collapse can look similar externally, yet the body’s physiological experience differs. You are in your Parasympathetic Nervous system (PNS) when in a rest state. A collapse state and 'rest state' are not the same. Rest states are relaxed, restorative, and refreshing and occur in response to safe environments. This is why when you are experiencing chronic burnout sometimes time off doesn't feel restorative.

You are in your Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) when in a collapse state. Collapsed states are dissociated, draining, and respond to stress and danger. When in a Collapse state, you are not recharging or refueling; you will likely feel burnt out even after your “break.”

Your parasympathetic nervous system is a network of nerves that relaxes your body after periods of stress or danger. It also helps run life-sustaining processes, like digestion, when you feel safe and relaxed. A resting state allows you to experience relief, calm, embodiment, connection, and high-body awareness.

Who can help me to heal my Submit/Collapse Response and create a wiser nervous system?

It can be difficult to shift back into your body and present-moment experience. This is not a fast process. Self-compassion is crucial for healing the Submit/Collapse response. The body must go through fight or flight and then back to activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (rest/digest system). So if you feel frozen or collapsed, that is an excellent time to engage in movement, moderate exercise, shaking, listening to invigorating music, walking, stretching, or going outside.

If you feel ready to address the trauma that has impacted your nervous system and your relationships and escape survival mode, we would love to help you at Carmel Therapy Network to overcome and heal this response.

Working with a trauma-informed psychotherapist or a trauma-informed dietitian, you can work towards healing your trauma responses. Going to a provider skilled in trauma healing is a significant first step in getting support and helping get unstuck.

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