Deer in Headlights Syndrome
Deer in Headlights Syndrome
- Thread starterMarmite
- Start date
victor-victim
Registrant
what is "Deer in headlights syndrome"?
is it a recognized condition or just a idiomatic description of behaviour?
all i could find worth mentioning was this.
[font:Courier New]Deer in headlights syndrome
We all experience moments when we feel out of our depth. Mostly it happens when something occurs that goes against our preconceptions of what could possibly happen. Some people take a moment to blink and then shoot into action, while others sort of freeze in place unable to decide what to do. This last course of action, or rather inaction, is often referred to as the deer in the headlights syndrome.
Unfortunately, these moments can happen after years of being confronted with scenarios where one does not know what to do or think of a way to cope with it. What usually happens is that a person confronted with such a situation will usually copy someone elses behavior or obey an order. They might feel stupid afterwards for not having the right reaction during the occurrence but it gives them a semblance of an idea of what to do.
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it was used in a legal argument as a defence but the verdict came in guilty.
The State versus Chelsea Chafee ~ Guilt by Association & Deer in Headlights Syndrome
that's all i got.
is it a recognized condition or just a idiomatic description of behaviour?
all i could find worth mentioning was this.
[font:Courier New]Deer in headlights syndrome
We all experience moments when we feel out of our depth. Mostly it happens when something occurs that goes against our preconceptions of what could possibly happen. Some people take a moment to blink and then shoot into action, while others sort of freeze in place unable to decide what to do. This last course of action, or rather inaction, is often referred to as the deer in the headlights syndrome.
Unfortunately, these moments can happen after years of being confronted with scenarios where one does not know what to do or think of a way to cope with it. What usually happens is that a person confronted with such a situation will usually copy someone elses behavior or obey an order. They might feel stupid afterwards for not having the right reaction during the occurrence but it gives them a semblance of an idea of what to do.
[/font]
it was used in a legal argument as a defence but the verdict came in guilty.
The State versus Chelsea Chafee ~ Guilt by Association & Deer in Headlights Syndrome
that's all i got.
victor-victim
Registrant
that sounds vaguely like the state of mind i was in as i witnessed the vigilantes beating my rapist.
i simply did not know what to do.
did not want to do anything.
did nothing except what i was told to do.
luckily, the other two guys were too busy beating the rapist to notice.
i stood by and "guarded the door".
if someone had directly ordered me to beat the guy,
i might have done it.
i was having a surreal out-of-body experience as i watched my life play out like a reality tv show.
i did NOT want to be there.
i am familiar with the phrase, but not with this particular ptsd association.
it may be a symptom of csa, but fortunately it is not one of mine.
i normally thrive and function well under chaotic conditions.
i hate the blame game, and always try to bring the focus back to solving the prevailing problem,
but i find that most "normal" people prefer to waste the first while accusing and abusing each other.
i refuse to play along.
i insist we fix first and fight later.
if they want to blame me, i say sorry, and worry about my reputation later.
there is plenty of time for forensics after the immediate issue has been resolved.
once everyone has calmed down and the obstacles and hazards have been eliminated, then i can atone or acquit myself.
if i am not able to calm the situation down, i leave.
if someone calls me a name or attempts to threaten or intimidate me.
then i F:LKJDS:LJ:IOEF:IE LOSE IT!!!!
we use the term "deer in the headlights" at work all the time to describe a blank scared stare you get from new guys who are afraid to answer a question or make a move for fear that they will get reprimanded.
they panic and freeze.
especially in rigging, where a mistake will result in catastrophic failure, grievous bodily injury or multiple deaths.
when in doubt, do nothing.
i simply did not know what to do.
did not want to do anything.
did nothing except what i was told to do.
luckily, the other two guys were too busy beating the rapist to notice.
i stood by and "guarded the door".
if someone had directly ordered me to beat the guy,
i might have done it.
i was having a surreal out-of-body experience as i watched my life play out like a reality tv show.
i did NOT want to be there.
i am familiar with the phrase, but not with this particular ptsd association.
it may be a symptom of csa, but fortunately it is not one of mine.
i normally thrive and function well under chaotic conditions.
i hate the blame game, and always try to bring the focus back to solving the prevailing problem,
but i find that most "normal" people prefer to waste the first while accusing and abusing each other.
i refuse to play along.
i insist we fix first and fight later.
if they want to blame me, i say sorry, and worry about my reputation later.
there is plenty of time for forensics after the immediate issue has been resolved.
once everyone has calmed down and the obstacles and hazards have been eliminated, then i can atone or acquit myself.
if i am not able to calm the situation down, i leave.
if someone calls me a name or attempts to threaten or intimidate me.
then i F:LKJDS:LJ:IOEF:IE LOSE IT!!!!
we use the term "deer in the headlights" at work all the time to describe a blank scared stare you get from new guys who are afraid to answer a question or make a move for fear that they will get reprimanded.
they panic and freeze.
especially in rigging, where a mistake will result in catastrophic failure, grievous bodily injury or multiple deaths.
when in doubt, do nothing.
tbkkfile
Registrant
Hi Marmite
I understand perfectly what your saying and feeling, I freeze, unable to make a decision, my brain refuses to function, for me the most important part is delaying whatever is causing it, sometimes a fraction of a second can be enough sometimes I need a little longer but it enables me to switch from "rabbit in a headlight mode" as we say over hear to thinking mode.
What works for me is pre-rehearsed actions as they are easier to do than to try to think of something at the time. It won't cover every eventuality but over time the confidence grows and it gets easier.
Wishing you well
David
I understand perfectly what your saying and feeling, I freeze, unable to make a decision, my brain refuses to function, for me the most important part is delaying whatever is causing it, sometimes a fraction of a second can be enough sometimes I need a little longer but it enables me to switch from "rabbit in a headlight mode" as we say over hear to thinking mode.
What works for me is pre-rehearsed actions as they are easier to do than to try to think of something at the time. It won't cover every eventuality but over time the confidence grows and it gets easier.
Wishing you well
David
Last edited by a moderator:
tbkkfile
Registrant
Hi Marmite
My biggest problem used to come from being in a high pressure situation, normally at work dealing with deadlines, especially if someone was aggressive or pushy, I'd go into freeze or victim mode.
I started using replies such as "how do you mean", "can you explain", "in what way" the term for these are open questions, and can't be answered with a yes or no, so I found it gave me enough time to get my brain into gear and to break the freeze or victim mode.
David
My biggest problem used to come from being in a high pressure situation, normally at work dealing with deadlines, especially if someone was aggressive or pushy, I'd go into freeze or victim mode.
I started using replies such as "how do you mean", "can you explain", "in what way" the term for these are open questions, and can't be answered with a yes or no, so I found it gave me enough time to get my brain into gear and to break the freeze or victim mode.
David
Last edited by a moderator:
