What's freeze response? Signs to identify this behavior
When confronted with overwhelming fear or trauma, our bodies and minds can go into a state of temporary paralysis, hoping to evade danger by remaining still and unnoticed. We freeze in a spot (not literally though), which means we are alert but cannot take action. This instinctual and deeply ingrained survival mechanism in our psyche is known as the freeze response.
Let's understand it with an example
Imagine a young woman walking alone at night when she suddenly finds herself in a terrifying situation. Out of the darkness, a masked person appears, holding a weapon and threatening her life. Overwhelmed by intense fear, the woman's body goes into a freeze response. Her muscles tighten, and she becomes still, hoping that by blending into the darkness, she will escape notice.
The body has four responses to perceived threats
When faced with threats, our bodies respond in four ways: fight, where we take action to overpower the threat; flight, where we run away to escape from the threat; freeze, where we feel stuck, unable to overcome or flee; and fawn, when we become appeasing or overly helpful. These instinctual reactions to perceived dangers are basically different strategies to deal with any threatening situation.
Signs to identify freeze response behavior
The state of attentive immobility is often a response to a traumatic situation or experience or prolonged stress. Since it is not chronic, people heal and get over this phase. The following are some signs to identify this behavior.
Putting things off
Procrastination is a common sign of being in freeze mode. Anxiety causes us to continually postpone important tasks. Feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin worsens the situation. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness. Fear of making mistakes leads to overthinking, avoiding new experiences, and being overly critical of ourselves. It becomes a cycle that reinforces the freeze response.
Always being alert
In freeze mode, our hypervigilance kicks in. It could mean constantly scanning the room, paying close attention to facial expressions, and looking for signs of danger in the surroundings. Anxious thoughts about ourselves or others occupy our minds. Even though it may not be obvious to others, internally, we remain highly alert and on edge, always watchful for potential threats.
Fatigued and uninspired
We may often feel tired and uninspired, which can greatly affect our ability to function in daily life. Signs like increased fatigue and sleeping more than usual become noticeable. The things that used to motivate and excite us no longer hold the same appeal. We lack the energy to perform even simple tasks and may find ourselves on the verge of giving up.
Living in isolation
In freeze mode, we often end up isolating ourselves because we lack the energy to be present in social situations. This means we cancel plans and skip events, preferring to stay at home instead. We no longer enjoy chatting and interacting with others as we used to. The thought of maintaining a social life feels like a tremendous effort.
Feeling zoned out
We may find ourselves feeling disconnected from reality and missing out on important conversations with others. This can create a sense of distance and detachment from those around us. For example, we might struggle to focus and actively participate in meaningful conversations. This disconnection can lead to a feeling of missing out, further reinforcing the feeling of being emotionally detached from the present
