Understanding the Freeze Response (Not Just Fight or Flight)

Do you feel stuck or numb during stress? You might be experiencing a freeze response—here’s what that means.

We’ve all heard of “fight or flight,” but fewer people know about freeze—a survival response where the body shuts down or disconnects to cope with overwhelming threat or trauma.

Signs of the freeze response include:

• Numbness or emotional shutdown

• Feeling stuck or dissociated

• Fatigue or "spacing out" during stress

You’re not broken—it’s your nervous system protecting you.

In therapy, we gently help clients bring awareness and regulation to these responses, creating a foundation of safety from which healing can happen.

You don’t have to navigate trauma responses alone—reach out today.

Contact us today