Surrendering to the Freeze Response: Why Slowness is Essential for Emotional Wellness
When we’re experiencing the freeze response, it’s natural to feel compelled to urge our way out of it. But in reality, this can end up prolonging the duration and intensity of the freeze response and stunting our ability to naturally ride that wave of internal activation. Think back to a time when you were a child and feeling overwhelmed in a stressful environment. Maybe someone told you to “hurry up” or “push through it” despite your bodily discomfort. This conditioning can make us believe that we should always be pressing forward, even in moments when we need a break the most.