The Freeze Mode

Our brain is a master survivalist and wired to protect us. In the face of danger, it quickly triggers the "fight flight freeze" response, preparing us to take the best (and most available) course of action. However, there are times when the dangers we encounter are beyond our ability to cope – childhood abuse, violence, war, natural disasters, illness, death and loss. In these situations, we often feel out of control, trapped, and helpless. That's when our brain activates the "freeze" response, a state that helps us mentally escape by disconnecting from the physical reality, because the brain feels that we have no other choice. This mental escape is often referred to as dissociation.

Dissociation is our brain's way of shielding us from overwhelming situations we can't control. However, the downside is that our brain gets really good at using this strategy, and sometimes struggles to distinguish between different types of dangers. As a result, we might find ourselves dissociating (aka mentally checking out) even during positive or important life events if our brain perceives them as potentially overwhelming or stressful.

This is where therapies that focus on reconnecting the brain and body can be beneficial. This helps us to re-establish a connection between our feelings, experiences, sensations and the physical world, in a safe way. The ultimate goal is to achieve a state of wholeness, where we are fully connected to our thoughts, emotions, physical body, and surroundings without fear or distress.