When discussing the terms fight or flight, the other reactions are often completely overlooked. In conjunction with fight or flight are freeze and fawn. According to author Samantha Bickham, “This autonomic reaction compels individuals to engage their defenses to prevent or avoid as much damage to the body and mind as possible.” (Bickham) In discussion surrounding Barbra, it is commonplace to invalidate any reaction other than fight. But the viewer sees repeatedly that Barbra’s responses are intact. She enacts Flight within the first 10 minutes of the movie and secures a safe place for herself even before being joined by another person. Unfortunately, the false safety of having company persuades her reaction to become freeze, becoming nearly unresponsive and immobile. Which it is important to keep in mind that these are not controlled reactions Even within this, she ends up helping a bit, getting up to collect wood to block the doors, and helping to keep the Zombie hoard out by blocking entrances with her body in the ending.

Her fear is so palpable throughout the entire film, and in a way that makes her few actions more impactful. Her responses, though frustrating to the audience, are valid and realistic. Many people claim they would be able to do it differently, but few have a natural heroic response. In comparison she reacts more deeply to the distressing situation, but her differing actions from the other characters do not make her weaker by any means. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental health services administration, “A particular event may be experienced as traumatic for one individual and not for another. How the individual labels, assigns meaning to, and is disrupted physically and psychologically by and event will contribute to whether or not it is experienced as traumatic.” (SAMHSA 8) All this to say, we are not responsible for our every action, and our responses are different from person to person. Validating an array of unexpected responses.