Sometimes, you have no choice but to just get through the day as best you can – even though you would have happily pulled the covers back over your head when the alarm went off.
We humans are incredibly interesting creatures who have the ability to appear completely sane on the outside, even when chaos is raging inside your head—and experts have a term that describes it perfectly.
We’ve all heard of the fight, flight, freeze or spawn response when we’re in a traumatic situation, but obviously, these emotions eventually go away…unless some people become paralyzed in the ‘freeze’ mentality.
It can be hard to tell when someone is in functional freeze mode as they usually look fine on the outside (Getty Stock Image)
But somehow, they can still appear quite physically calm to other people and can go about their daily tasks – which is why this feeling has been called “functional freeze mode”.
Those who have experienced it have described it as feeling ‘tired and tired’, according to the Counseling Directory, explaining that they have high levels of anxiety and a lack of desire to do things.
Signs you may be in functional freeze mode include persistent low-level anxiety, wanting to isolate, lack of motivation to take care of yourself, procrastination, exhaustion, and feeling disconnected from your feelings and the world.
Although it can be hard to tell, keep an eye out if you notice that your brain seems to ‘freeze’ to protect itself.
According to nervous system practitioner and author of The secret language of the body Jennifer Mann, you can melt away from this mindset if you put in the work, but the first step is to understand it.
Speaking to Stylist, she explained: “Because our nervous system hasn’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 handy tips to help you thaw out?
Don’t worry, there are things you can do to help. (Getty Stock Photo)
hum
There are fewer simple pleasures in life than humming a catchy tune – but did you know it can actually help you calm down if you feel yourself slipping into a frozen state?
Humming and other somatic practices — which are brief 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, Mann says.
This in turn reduces the stress hormone, cortisol, which is responsible for ‘keeping us in an overworked state’.
Mann recommends humming a low ‘voo’ sound for best effects.
She added: “Research has found that vibrating the vocal cords stimulates the muscles at the back of the throat, activating the vagus nerve and producing beneficial calming effects.”
Go barefoot
The last thing you think of doing while experiencing mental turmoil is taking off your shoes and socks, but it turns out that going barefoot can be very beneficial for those in functional freeze mode.
Allowing your teeth to breathe and touching the hard, cold ground can actually help you relax and bring your attention back to your body.
Known as ‘grounding’, it’s another somatic technique that helps calm your nervous system as the sensation of feeling the world beneath your feet reminds you to come back to the present moment.
Mann explained: “When we consciously walk barefoot on natural surfaces like grass or sand, our brains are stimulated by sensory receptors on thousands of nerve endings in our feet.
“The survival state makes us feel disconnected from our bodies as a way to protect ourselves, so anything we can do to anchor our brains in the here and now can help reduce feelings of numbness and derealization.”
Jennifer Mann recommends going barefoot on the ground (Getty Stock Image)
touching
You’re well on your way to a good hide if you suddenly start tapping incessantly – but if you’re stuck in functional freeze mode, you’ve got a get-out-of-jail-free card.
According to Mann, a little thing called emotional freedom techniques (EFT) can pull you out of your brain fog by helping to neutralize your nervous system while you’re panicking.
She explained that it works just like acupuncture, but without all the fine 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 touch specific areas of the skin to stimulate calming messages in the limbic system of the brain.
“These meridian points are considered passages where energy flows through the body, helping to release pent-up stressful emotions that cause the freeze response.”
Find the source
Many problems can pop up throughout your day that have the potential to completely derail your positive mindset, so making sure you’ve resolved all the potential stresses in your life is a great place to start.
There is more than likely an underlying problem that is putting you in functional freeze mode, so finding the source of the problem is essential to overcoming it.
Mann suggests trying therapy and consulting your GP, especially if it’s affecting your daily life.
She added: “Therapy can be really helpful in understanding the deeper causes of stress and the symptoms it causes, such as the freeze mode. A qualified therapist can help you sort out what’s driving the problem and provide tools and techniques to help your brain return to a place where it feels safe and grounded.”
Featured image credit: Getty Stock Images
Topics: Mental Health, Health, News