Beyond Fight or Flight: Embracing the Forgotten Freeze Response

Many of us are familiar with the ‘fight or flight response.’ However, little is known about the ‘freeze response’ and how it leads to anxiety disorders, hypersensitivity, and DPDR later on in life. Today on the anxiety guy podcast however all will be revealed.

In this candid discussion, I share my personal experiences with freezing, tracing it back to childhood moments and the authority figures that left a lasting impact. We’re diving beyond the surface to uncover the effects of freezing on my life and potentially on yours as well.

Together, we’ll unravel the lesser-known aspect of the fight-flight-freeze response.

While many are familiar with fight or flight, few recognize the importance of freezing. I explore how freezing shaped my actions, leading to suppressed ideas, reduced self-worth, and repressed emotions. This episode peels back the layers, revealing the profound implications of these frozen states.

As we explore further, I shed light on how freezing often stems from unresolved traumas and events where fighting or fleeing wasn’t an option for a vulnerable child. The aftermath of such experiences can influence our lives in unexpected ways.

But fear not, because there’s a transformative solution within reach.

I introduce a powerful technique that enabled me to break free from frozen emotions: creating safe havens within my imagination. By envisioning alternate scenarios during past traumas, I managed to detach negative emotions from those memories. This emotional reframing technique taps into the brain’s incredible plasticity, allowing us to rewrite old narratives.

Creativity becomes our ally on this transformative journey.

I encourage you to reimagine past situations in unique ways that empower you. Through consistent practice and deep emotional involvement, you can rewire your brain’s connections and liberate yourself from frozen states.

As we conclude, I stress the idea that your past doesn’t have to define your present or future. I empower you to challenge the limitations imposed by your ego and replace them with self-love and understanding. This episode isn’t just about understanding frozen emotions—it’s about taking actionable steps towards transformation.

Join me as we embark on this journey of self-discovery, healing, and empowerment.

Tune in to this episode to uncover the path towards thawing frozen emotions and embracing your true potential. Remember, you are more than the emotions that bind you. Start your healing journey today by visiting the Panic Attack Recovery Program Page.

Episode Outline 

• [00:00] Episode outline 
• [00:46] Episode theme introduction 
• [01:01] Reflection on freezing 
• [03:54] Freezing leading to hypersensitivity 
• [05:42] Creating a safe place amidst trauma 
• [07:00] Eliminating freezing sensation 
• [09:02] Defying your ego and fear 
• [10:21] The end 

Quotes 

• “Freezing paved the way for suppressing my own ideas in the future,  hoping never to step on anyone’s shoes,  and tippy-toeing around life”
• “Freezing paved the way for suppressing my own ideas in the future,  hoping never to step on anyone’s shoes,  and tippy-toeing around life”
• “But let me tell you something.  Your past doesn’t have to be your present nor your future.  Every single time you go about your day,  reliving and reconditioning yourself based on this  old programming,  you are strengthening the fears”
• “And so we can begin to replace the irrational fear with unconditional love for ourselves and for everybody else by no longer being led by the ego mind.  You can do this starting today and I highly recommend that you get creative with this idea of creating safe places based on past experiences to let go of the freezing that has happened within your physiology.”

When there was an inability to fight or flight, how has the ‘freeze’ response affected your adult life? Comment below.

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