Understanding the Freeze Response and Hypoarousal

Introduction

• Speaker: Simone Saunders, Licensed Therapist and Social Worker
• Focus: Lifestyle, mental health, and wellness
• Context: Understanding the nervous system and the freeze response (hypoarousal)

The Nervous System and Brain

• Key Metaphor: Brain's amygdala as a smoke detector
  • Function: Detects danger, real or perceived, and triggers responses
  • Response Types: Fight, flight, freeze, and fawn
• Amygdala Activation: Turns off the prefrontal cortex
  • Prefrontal Cortex Role: Logic, decision-making, coping tools
  • Reason for Shutdown: Pathological brain minimizes logic during immediate danger

Automatic Responses

• Fight or Flight: Hyperarousal (red zone)
  • Examples: Anxiety, panic attacks, anger outbursts
• Freeze and Fawn: Hypoarousal (blue zone)
  • Fawn: People-pleasing, acquiescence
  • Freeze: Numbness, dissociation, lethargy, lack of motivation

Window of Tolerance

• Definition: State of emotional regulation
• Hyperarousal and Hypoarousal
  • Hyperarousal: Emotional activation states
  • Hypoarousal: Numbing and dissociative states
• Shrinkage of Window: Due to hardship or trauma
  • Smaller window leads to easier dysregulation

Curiosity and Awareness

• Problem of Shame: Perpetuates existing cycles, unproductive long-term
• Curiosity Approach: Shame-free inquiry into personal triggers
  • Objective: Gather information to widen window of tolerance

Strategies to Widen Window of Tolerance

1. Get Curious: Identify moments of numbness and triggers
2. Activate the Body: Physical movement to counteract lethargy
   • Experiment: Walks, stretching, or movement
3. Use Sensory Tricks: Sour candies for body awareness
4. Call It Out: Recognize when in a freeze state to initiate change

Conclusion

• Engagement: Encourage interaction via comments and subscriptions
• Goal: Provide tools for better emotional and nervous system regulation