Caught up in a violent attack, would you be a hero – or would you run? Both can be valuable | Emma Kavanagh

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We All Have A Hero Within Us - The Power of Human Instincts In Times Of Crisis.

Imagine finding yourself caught in a violent attack on a train. Would you stand your ground and fight off the attackers, or would you flee for your life? Both options can be valuable, depending on our individual circumstances and the social context that surrounds us.

Our instinctual responses to danger are often governed by two fundamental concepts: "fight or flight". However, research in psychology suggests that humans also possess a "tend and befriend" drive - an innate urge to connect with others and offer support when needed most. This complex interplay between our primal instincts and social behavior plays out during crisis situations like the one in Cambridgeshire.

When confronted with a life-threatening situation, our initial reaction may be fear-driven, causing us to flee or remove ourselves from harm's way. But what follows is where new opportunities arise - once we have escaped danger, many of us are compelled to return and offer aid to those injured or traumatized by the attack.

It's essential to recognize that running away in a crisis does not make someone cowardly. It simply means that we're allowing our rational faculties to kick in, allowing us to survive long enough to respond more thoughtfully later on. The crucial point is to acknowledge that our individual responses are shaped by various factors - including how closely we identify ourselves with the values of helping others.

Moreover, research indicates that many people experience post-traumatic growth after going through a traumatic event like this one. Rather than letting their experiences define them, survivors develop new coping mechanisms and emerge stronger, more resilient individuals.

For those struggling to cope in such situations, it's crucial to acknowledge that it is okay not to be OK - at least initially. Allow yourself time to process your emotions and work through the trauma, knowing that these feelings will gradually subside over time as you incorporate this new experience into your identity.
 
🤔 I get what they're saying about having a hero within us, but what if we're not in a position to stand our ground? What if we're already struggling just to survive? It's easy to say "tend and befriend" when you've got the energy and resources to do so. But for those who are barely holding on, fighting or fleeing might be the only options available 🚂💔. Can't we acknowledge that sometimes it's necessary to prioritize self-preservation over others? And what about people who can't afford to take time off work or seek help after a traumatic event? The world isn't always equal ⏰👥.
 
I just can't even right now... thinkin' about people in crisis situations is like, so emotional 😭. I mean, what if we all had to be heroes for real? 🦸‍♀️💪 Like, imagine you're on that train and someone's gettin' attacked - do you just stand there or would u rather run away? I personally think it's okay to run first, like our brain is tryin' to save us from all the crazy stuff that's happenin'. And then later, when we're feelin' safe enough, we can go back and help out. But honestly, I'm worried about people who are really strugglin' after these kinds of incidents... they need so much support and understanding 🤗. We gotta be kind to each other during tough times 'cause that's what helps us heal & grow 💕
 
🤯 I gotta say, this whole thing about having a hero within us is pretty deep, fam 😊. I mean, think about it - when life throws you a curveball, what do you do? 🤔 Do you go all in and fight like Rocky Balboa or do you chill out and help others out like Spider-Man saving the day? 🕸️ It's all about finding that balance between being selfless and taking care of yourself, you know? 💖

And I'm loving how this article is saying it's okay to not be okay after a traumatic event. Like, we're living in a world where everyone's always supposed to be strong and stuffy, but really, we just need a good ol' fashioned hug from someone who cares 🤗. So yeah, let's all just take a deep breath, put on our comfiest PJs, and remember that it's okay to not have all the answers 💆‍♀️.
 
Ugh, can u believe people still freak out when they see someone get attacked on a train 🤯? I think some ppl are just too conditioned to panic & run away, but others are like "wait, I got this" 💪. It's all about knowin' ur limits & prioritizin' ur safety, ya feel? But what really blows me is that people who run away in a crisis can still be heroes in their own way 🙏. Like, just thinkin' of others & gettin' help or support sent is already a huge act of kindness 🤗.
 
🤯 I think its wild how our instincts try to keep us safe in a split second 🕰️ but then also push us to help others after we're safe again 🤝 Its like our brain is constantly negotiating between being brave and looking out for ourselves vs letting go and trying to make things better for everyone else 👥💕 sometimes I just wanna scream at my phone to take action already but honestly its all about taking that first step 💪😬
 
🤔 gotta say, being human can be pretty wild. I mean, one minute we're running for our lives from a violent attack 🚂💥, and the next we're crawling out of our comfort zones to help others who need it. It's like our instincts are all over the place 💁‍♀️.

But seriously, have you ever had to deal with a crisis? 🤯 Fleeing or fighting back can be both instinctual responses... but let's not forget that sometimes our brains just take over and we gotta prioritize survival first 🕰️. It's okay to not be okay after something traumatic happens – it's like our emotions are saying, "Uh, what just happened?" 😩

I think this article hits the nail on the head when it says our responses in crisis situations are shaped by how closely we identify ourselves with helping others 💖. Like, if I'm someone who values community and supporting my peeps, I'll more likely go out of my way to help those affected 🌈.

Post-traumatic growth is a real thing, right? 😊 It's amazing when people come out stronger on the other side... but at the same time, it's okay to not be immediate #1. Let yourself process your emotions and grow into that new identity 💫.
 
"Life begins with a problem." 🤔💡

For me, when I hear about tragic events like train attacks, it's hard not to think about how individuals respond in those moments of crisis. While some might be driven to fight or flee, others are compelled to tend and befriend - to offer support and comfort to those affected. It's amazing how our primal instincts can be balanced by our social behavior, leading us to become heroes in our own ways. Sometimes, taking a step back and allowing ourselves time to process emotions is the bravest thing we can do. 🙏
 
You know what really got me thinking about our instincts while I was watching that train attack video? 🤯 Like, have you ever noticed how some people are just naturally more chill in crowded places? I mean, I get nervous just thinking about it, but then there's my cousin who can just walk into a packed mall and order a coffee without even breaking a sweat. Is she secretly a superhero or something? 💁‍♀️ And what about those "tend and befriend" vibes? I had the craziest experience with that at the beach last summer. This random stranger comes over to me and starts chatting while my kid was playing nearby, and before I knew it, we were exchanging numbers and meeting up for coffee. It just goes to show you don't need a crisis to discover your inner hero! 🌟
 
🌟 I mean, can you even put into words how inspiring it is to see people come together after a traumatic event? Like, think about all those strangers who risked their own lives to help those injured on that train... it's not just about the bravery, but also about human connection & empathy 💕. We often forget that we're not alone in our struggles, that there's always someone else out there willing to lend a helping hand 🤝. And yeah, I think it's so important to acknowledge that seeking help is NOT a sign of weakness - it's actually a sign of strength 💪!
 
ugh i dont think i could ever just stand my ground in a situation like that 🤔 i mean what if theres more people involved than just the attackers? what if they're all armed and stuff? id rather try to find help and get out of there safely, you know? and yeah its cool that people can grow from traumatic experiences, but i feel bad for those who dont... 😞 what do u think about this "tend and befriend" thing tho? does it really mean we should just go hug people in crisis or something? 🤷‍♀️
 
🤔 I think its so important for us as parents to teach our kids about how to respond in a crisis situation, not just physically but emotionally too! 🤗 My son was bitten by another kid at school last year and he totally freaked out, I had to stay calm and help him through it. We talked about why we shouldn't fight back and instead how we could tell the teacher what happened. Its amazing how fast our kids can pick up on our emotions and reactions! 🙏
 
🤔 I'm not sure about this whole "having a hero within us" thing... I mean, what if we can't be heroic in the moment? What if our instincts kick in and we just want to survive? 🙅‍♂️ shouldn't that be enough? It feels like the article is trying to make 'fleeing' sound like the bad guy here. Newsflash: sometimes running away is the best option! 😩 And what about people who can't afford to take time off work or leave their homes after a traumatic event? It's not always as easy as just 'allowing our rational faculties to kick in'. 🙄
 
🤔 I gotta say, I love how this article highlights the fact that running away in a crisis doesn't make you cowardly, it just means you're trying to survive first. It's all about acknowledging our individual responses are shaped by so many factors, like values and social context. And let's be real, PTSD is super common after traumatic events - it's okay to not be okay at first. We need to create spaces where people can process their emotions without judgment 🤗.
 
💡 "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela 😊 When faced with a crisis, it's natural to have different instincts, and that's what makes us human. It's okay to acknowledge our fears and take the rational approach to survive, rather than being judged as cowardly. Healing takes time, so be patient with yourself and remember that you're not alone 💕
 
🤔 I get what they're saying about having a hero within us, but for me, it's not just about standing up or running away. It's about recognizing when to take action and how we can adapt our instincts to the situation at hand. Like, in that train attack scenario, maybe fleeing is the best first move, but then what? How do we know we're doing the right thing afterwards?

I also think it's easy to forget that everyone's experiences are unique, even when it comes to trauma and crisis situations. One person might find they grow stronger from a traumatic event, while another might struggle for years afterward. It's not always about having some sort of post-traumatic growth experience - sometimes we just need help, period.

It's also worth noting that our values and societal context can really shape how we respond in a crisis situation. I mean, if you're part of a community that prizes helping others above all else, you might be more inclined to stand your ground or return to the scene. But what about someone who's never felt like they fit in? How do they know where to turn then?
 
I mean, I gotta agree with the idea that we all have a hero within us, but what about when our instincts are conflicting like that? Like, in that train attack scenario, how do we know which one is gonna kick in first - fight or flight? 🤔 And don't even get me started on this "tend and befriend" drive thing... sounds like it's all well and good, but what about when you're in a situation where nobody else can help and you gotta make that split-second decision to save your own skin? Can't just ignore the danger, ya know?

And yeah, I get that running away doesn't necessarily mean you're cowardly, but what if it's literally all you can do at the time? Like, no way to fight back or anything. Just a bunch of instinct trying to kick in and help you survive... but also kinda leaving others high and dry.

But I do think acknowledging our emotions is key here... like, it's okay not to be OK, especially when stuff gets traumatic. You gotta let yourself process all that and eventually work through it. That's for sure. 💆
 
I think it's super cool how our bodies have these built-in instincts to respond to danger! 🤯 Like when I'm on my daily commute and someone's being really rude to another person, I might feel this urge to step in & help... but then again, sometimes I just wanna chill and let others handle it 🙃. It's all about knowing what's best for YOU at that specific moment. And honestly, if you're feeling overwhelmed or scared, it's totally okay to take a step back & prioritize your own safety - no judgment here! 🤗 #SelfCare #CrisisResponse #Empowerment
 
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