What is freeze trauma response?

The fight, flight, or freeze response refers to involuntary physiological changes that happen in the body and mind when a person feels threatened. This response exists to keep people safe, preparing them to face, escape, or hide from danger.Jul 28, 2021

What happens during a freeze response?

The “freeze” response occurs when our brains decide we cannot take on the threat nor are we able to escape. Often when this happens our bodies might remain still, unable to move, numb or “freeze”. We may feel as if we are not actually a part of our bodies.

What causes freeze trauma response?

Your body's fight-flight-freeze response is triggered by psychological fears. It's a built-in defense mechanism that causes physiological changes, like rapid heart rate and reduced perception of pain. This enables you to quickly protect yourself from a perceived threat.

What are the 4 Responses to trauma?

There are four responses that are often brought up when talking about sexual trauma & abuse: fight, flight, freeze, and appease. and are well-known trauma responses where the brain and body automatically respond by fighting back or fleeing a dangerous situation.

How do I get out of freeze trauma response?

Five Coping Skills for Overcoming the Fight, Flight or Freeze…

  1. What's Happening, Neurologically Speaking: …
  2. Deep Breathing or Belly Breathing. …
  3. Grounding Exercises. …
  4. Guided Imagery or Guided Meditation. …
  5. Self Soothe Through Temperature. …
  6. Practice "RAIN."

Sep 1, 2020

What does the freeze response feel like?

Freeze – Feeling stuck in a certain part of the body, feeling cold or numb, physical stiffness or heaviness of limbs, decreased heart-rate, restricted breathing or holding of the breath, a sense of dread or foreboding.

Can anxiety cause you to freeze?

Freezing can also be triggered when we experience anxiety or panic in our everyday life. Social situations, interviews, exams, giving a presentation and relational conflict can all lead us to freeze.

Is dissociation a freeze response?

Dissociation is an adaptive response to threat and is a form of “freezing”. … It is important to know that dissociation is a normal response in the face of trauma.

What does freeze response look like?

Freeze – Feeling stuck in a certain part of the body, feeling cold or numb, physical stiffness or heaviness of limbs, decreased heart-rate, restricted breathing or holding of the breath, a sense of dread or foreboding.