Sometimes you have no choice but to just get through the day as best you can, even if you would have happily pulled the covers over your head when your alarm went off.
We humans are extremely interesting creatures who have the ability to appear completely healthy from the outside, even when chaos erupts in your head – and experts have a term that describes this perfectly.
We’ve all heard of the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn response when we’re in a traumatic situation, but it’s clear that these emotions eventually fade… except some people become paralyzed by the “freeze” mentality .
It can be difficult to tell when someone is in functional freeze mode because they usually look fine from the outside (Getty Stock Image)
But somehow they can still appear quite physically calm to other people and can complete their daily tasks. That’s why this feeling is called “functional freeze mode.”
Those who have experienced it have described it as feeling “tired and wired,” according to Counseling Directory, explaining that they have both increased anxiety levels and a lack of desire to do things.
Signs that you may be in functional freeze mode include persistent mild anxiety, a desire to isolate yourself, a lack of motivation to care for yourself, procrastination, exhaustion, and a feeling of being disconnected from your feelings and the world.
Although it may be difficult to spot, keep an eye out for any signs of your brain seemingly ‘freezing’ to protect itself.
According to nervous system practitioner and author of The secret language of the body Jennifer Mann, you can melt yourself out of this mindset if you put in the effort, but the first step is understanding it.
Speaking to Stylist, she explained: “Because our nervous systems haven’t evolved to keep up with the fast pace of modern life, our brains can interpret this flood of information as a threat – shutting down as a protective measure.”
So if you’re stuck in functional freeze mode, why not try these helpful tips to help you thaw?
Don’t worry, there are things you can do to help. (Getty stock photo)
Buzzing
There are fewer simple pleasures in life than humming a catchy tune – but did you know that it can actually help calm you down when you feel like you’re in a frozen state?
Humming and other somatic exercises — which are short exercises that stimulate the vagus nerve, which controls the body’s “rest and digest” response — can trigger the release of various calming hormones and neurotransmitters, says Mann.
This in turn reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which is responsible for ‘keeping us in a state of overwhelm’.
Mann recommends humming a low “voo” sound for the best effects.
She added: “Research has shown that the vibration of the vocal cords stimulates the muscles in the back of the throat, activates the vagus nerve and produces beneficial calming effects.”
Go barefoot
The last thing on your mind while experiencing mental turmoil is taking off your shoes and socks, but it turns out that going barefoot can be very helpful for those in functional freeze mode.
Letting your toes breathe and touching the cold, hard ground can really calm you down and bring your attention back to your body.
Known as “grounding,” it is another somatic technique that helps to calm your nervous system, as the sensation of feeling the world beneath your feet reminds you to return to the present moment.
Mann explained: ‘When we consciously walk barefoot on natural surfaces such as grass or sand, our brains are stimulated by the sensory receptors in thousands of nerve endings in our feet.
“The survival state makes us feel disconnected from our bodies as a way of self-protection, so anything we can do to re-anchor our brains in the here and now can help reduce feelings of numbness and derealization.”
Jennifer Mann recommends going barefoot to ‘ground yourself’ (Getty Stock Image)
To tap
You’re going in the right direction to hide well when you suddenly start tapping incessantly – but if you’re stuck in functional freeze mode, you’ll have a Get Out of Jail Free card.
According to Mann, a little thing called emotional freedom techniques (EFT) can snap you out of your brain fog by helping to neutralize your nervous system while you’re panicking.
She explained that it works the same way as acupuncture, but without all those thin needles.
The author said: “The skin is also an organ, which has many nerve endings that connect to the brain.
“EFT tapping is based on the same energy and meridian system used in acupuncture, where we use our fingers to gently tap specific areas of the skin to stimulate calming messages to the brain’s limbic system.
“These meridian points are considered conduits where energy flows in the body, releasing pent-up stressful emotions that cause the freeze response.”
Find the source
Numerous issues can arise throughout the day that have the potential to completely derail your positive attitude. So making sure you’ve resolved any potential tensions in your life is a good start.
It is more than likely that there is an underlying problem that is putting you into functional freeze mode, so finding the cause of the problem is essential to overcoming it.
Mann suggests trying therapy and checking with your doctor, especially if it’s affecting your daily life.
She added: “Therapy can be very helpful in understanding the root causes of stress and the symptoms it causes, such as freeze mode. A qualified therapist can help you figure out what’s causing the problem and provide you with tools and techniques to help you reduce your stress. brain returns to a place where it feels safe and grounded.”
Featured image credits: Getty Stock Images
Topics: mental health, health, news