04/10/2024
Have you ever wondered if maybe your nervous system is stuck in a freeze 🥶 response? During freeze, the body may shut-down to conserve energy, yet remain hyper-aware of the surrounding environment, waiting for an opportunity to escape safely. However, if an opportunity never arises for escape or there is a chronic state of danger, threat, or overwhelm, the freeze response can become chronic or maladaptive, and lead to various symptoms.
Here are four subtle signs that you might be stuck in a chronic freeze state:
❄️ Even when doing things you enjoy like talking with a good friend or reading you may find it hard to concentrate or remember details of what you read or discussed. You may feel foggy, not present, and forget important topics of the conversation or story.
❄️ You may not listen to your body and your needs. You may feel stuck and unable to get up and go to the bathroom, get a drink of water, get something to eat, etc. You may even delay it to the point of being in pain and still feel glued to the couch/bed etc and unable to move.
❄️ This one is unique but you may not recognize or like the sound of your own voice. This could be because you are often in freeze and not present to hear your own voice and what it sounds like. You may even talk to yourself or make quiet audible noises like laughing etc and not even realize you are doing it until someone points it out.
❄️ You may have a hard time estimating much time has gone by, or you may be chronically late (hello, it’s me, hi, I’m the problem 🙋♀️). This can happen to anyone but might be a sign you are in freeze if you feel foggy 😶🌫️ or like you are underwater 🐠 and unable to connect with time.
Of course, these signs may not be true for everyone. However, finding therapist that practices can help you identify if maybe you are stuck in freeze and help you safely and slowly mobilize.
Can you relate to any of these signs? Let’s talk about it in the comments. 👇