Why Theon Greyjoy Jumped, And Why You Might Have Too.

Zach Stone
Jul 25, 2017 · 3 min read

*SPOILER ALERT FOR GAME OF THRONES FANS. IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED SEASON 7 EPISODE 2, PROCEED WITH CAUTION*

On the last episode of Game Of Thrones, we saw a horrific massacre led by Euron Greyjoy, on the fleet of ships led by Yara and Theon Greyjoy.

Here’s the gist: Yara is captured by Euron and held at knifepoint. Euron taunts Theon to come and save Yara, his sister. Instead of fighting Euron, Theon jumps into the ocean.

Here is the scene where he jumps.

A lot of people have been speculating about why Theon jumped, and or, what they would have done differently. In truth, they can’t possibly know for sure. No, I don’t have insider show knowledge. Instead, I want to use neuroscience and behavioral studies to explain why Theon jumped overboard instead of “fighting” to save his sister.

Theon Greyjoy was subject to prolonged physical and psychological torture at the hands of Ramsay Bolton. Ramsay literally attempts to “remake” Theon into a different person by using torture to shatter his identity and sense of self. Theon is a survivor of complex trauma. Experiencing traumatic effects floods the brain and the body with what are aptly called “survival chemicals.” Noradrenaline, Dopamine, Insulin, Cortisol, and Serotonin help us to run faster, move stronger, see more effectively, stop us from having a heart attack, and numb out painful sensations so that we can survive extremely stressful and dangerous situations. These chemicals also trigger what are known as the 4 F’s (fight, flight, freeze, and fold). You don’t get to choose if you fight, run, freeze and hide, or lastly curl up into a ball in order to protect your vital organs. The brain can put us into an almost “auto-pilot” experience in order to do whatever it thinks will keep us the safest.

These chemicals can easily become stuck in our system. If we are unable to expel them through movement or emotional release, they can injure our brain chemistry and change how we behave or perceive the world and others. In small doses these chemicals are vital for body functioning. If we constantly feel under threat, these chemicals regularly flood our system and can wear down our immune system, our organ functions, and our mental wellbeing.

When Theon witnessed the mutilation of his fellow crew members at the hands of Euron’s mates, it triggered a massive flood of those survival chemicals. His brain reacted with a “run” command. He didn’t necessarily make a conscious choice. Even though in the show, it may have seemed like he did, in real life, the brain takes over and often decides for us. Even with extensive training and reprogramming, soldiers sometimes run, or freeze and fold during combat engagements.

Everyone reacts to trauma differently because everyones brain chemistry, coping skills, and life experiences are different. We often can’t control what happens to us. When experiencing unresolved traumatic effects, we sometimes struggle to even control how we respond. As I said earlier, trauma is an injury to the brain which can be healed, but it’s a process that takes time. Healing isn’t a straight line, it’s more of a spiral. We may jump off more than a few ships before all is said and done.

If you, or someone you know may be experiencing traumatic effects these are two excellent books that I recommend:

https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748

https://www.amazon.com/Waking-Tiger-Healing-Peter-Levine-ebook/dp/B002IYE5XO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1500995544&sr=1-1&keywords=waking+the+tiger

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