Freeze
In true shutdown, instead of sending extra energy to deal with a stressor, the nervous system conserves energy to promote survival. In nature, we see animals literally use the freeze response when they “play dead” to avoid being attacked.
If your nervous system is overwhelmed, and you shift towards a freeze state, you might:
feel foggy, numb, unmotivated, drained, disconnected, hopeless, or helpless.
want to hide from your feelings, problems, and people.
have a hard time focusing and completing tasks.
find it difficult to get off the couch or out of bed.
spend many hours numbing out on screens.
Sometimes, people experience some degree of functional shutdown and can continue going through the motions of life. Other times, they may find it hard to engage at all. If you ever feel that you are stuck in a state of depression, please seek out additional support from a physician or therapist.
SSP listening, combined with intentional practices and good support, can help you shift out of patterns of shutdown.
To begin to shift away from a shutdown response, you can pull in a little activating energy in a way that feels safe and accessible. If you try to pull in a big surge of energy while in a freeze state, it can feel like too much and may make your nervous system want to shut down again.
By sighing loudly or yawning intentionally, you can use your breath to tell your nervous system to initiate some extra energy.
It can also be helpful to move your body in ways that feel comfortable and not strenuous. Taking a slow walk outside has many benefits - especially if you have access to nature. Did you know that trees release chemicals into the air that can reduce stress hormones and boost your immune system? Research also suggests that walking in nature may also promote better sleep, faster healing, and reduced anxiety and depression.
If you feel that you tend towards shutdown patterns, please give yourself grace! Cultural pressure to achieve and be productive can add layers of guilt or shame for someone who feels stuck in shutdown. Ultimately, any stress response is your body and brain trying to protect you. Making small, one-step goals can help you reconnect with activities or people that give you a little more energy to shift out of shutdown and towards a state of more ease and safety.
