The ‘fight or flight’ response is a phrase we know all too well. ‘Fight or flight’ response is how your body reacts to danger to help you survive. It is part of being a human. But what about the fight-flight-freeze response? When we ‘freeze’ it’s often because we are paralysed with fear in our bodies and are unsure how to respond to our surroundings. Freezing is a common response to trauma and fear. If you have or have had PTSD, it is not unusual to experience freeze trauma. If you have not experienced this kind of trauma, it may be difficult for you to understand how it works. An attempt to try and put it into perspective for you would be to request that you imagine being so terrified of something that you cannot move or speak. It is a normal and physical response that the body makes when it does not know how to react or begins to feel lost. Imagine a deer in headlights – it often will freeze because it doesn’t know how else to respond to the danger it is facing. Freezing is the body’s way of making you feel safer in your environment and is normal. But how can we overcome it?
When we feel like this, it can lead to feeling isolated and alone. Alongside a COVID-19 pandemic, loneliness really is the last thing anyone could want right now. It can also lead us to believe that we are the only ones who are feeling this way and that just isn’t the case. Many humans worldwide have experienced this feeling in their life – multiple times – frequently. You are not alone in this feeling. How can we prevent it?>
- Breathing. It sounds simple and can be difficult too, especially when you are faced with fear. But having and maintaining good control of your breathing techniques can really help.
- Try to pay attention to your surroundings. Noises you hear, what you can smell, taste and see.
- Another tip to preventing freeze trauma is to talk about it with a qualified psychotherapist. They really know what they are talking about. Jessica Valentine, who hires me to write for her and do some of her social media on here really is an outstanding therapist. She knows what she’s talking about, she works with many different clients and professionals and she’s got years of experience.
There are many ways in which Jessica’s services can help you if you are experiencing this. Send her a DM on social media or via: Call today to book an appointment:
Brighton, London, via Skype
+44 (0) 7810 744 821
Freeze trauma is a normal response – read that again.
Thank you for reading. Keep visiting this page for more blog posts on wellbeing and mental health.