“How do I turn off the Freeze response” the freeze response is a survival instinct stored deep in your brain. It’s an automatic response to overwhelming danger, or at least perceived danger. When fighting your way out or running away seem impossible, the brain turns on the freeze response as the last resort.
This is not something conscious, it’s not something you plan or choose, it’s something that your deep limbic brain triggers much faster than thinking. And it can be hard to break out of the freeze response. So in this video we’re going to talk about one of the things I do in session with my clients to help them work through it.
OK, so the freeze response is the third option in the fight flight freeze reaction to danger. Fight works when the threat seems beatable (something smaller or less powerful than you), Flight works when you’re faster or have an advantage to escape, and freeze kicks in automatically when your deep subconscious brain decides the threat is too overwhelming, to large or strong or fast or powerful to fight off or escape. And honestly the freeze response can be pretty effective- if you watch wildlife documentaries much, you may have seen animals survive because they froze, hid, or played dead. If you’ve frozen in the past, don’t beat yourself up, just thank your brain for trying to keep you safe and then let’s move forward, let’s work on building some new skills.
Now If you look at how the freeze response shows up, it can turn on in a big way- like freezing up in the middle of a battle- or in a very small ways, like if you’re stressed about a test-you may feel a sense of dread and overwhelm, and then just try to avoid or hide from your studying. Our anciently evolved brain might turn on the freeze response in the case of a life-threatening event or if you’re public speaking.
Here’s some of the Symptoms of the Freeze response:
Your muscles lock up, in part or all of the body, this is called tonic immobility, your muscles literally lose the ability to move.
Feelings of numbness, detachment, or dissociation- this means that you separate from your thoughts, feelings and sensations for a while. In the case of imminent death this is a pretty functional response, protecting you from pain that you can’t escape, but when it is a response to actual safety but perceived threats then it can really mess with your life, disconnecting you from the things you care about
Feeling overwhelmed
Fawning behaviors like going along with it, appeasing the more powerful entity, giving in,
Feeling cold, stuck, trapped,
A sense of stiffness, or heaviness
Holding breath, Shrinking, or trying to disappear
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Therapy in a Nutshell, and the information provided by Emma McAdam, is solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
If you are in crisis please contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at: or 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or your local emergency services.
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