Functional Freeze Response: Recognizing and Addressing Temporary Immobility in Therapy

What is the Functional Freeze Response?

The functional freeze response is a temporary state of immobility and heightened alertness activated by the autonomic nervous system in response to perceived danger. Unlike the chronic freeze response  that often accompany long-term trauma, the functional freeze typically occurs as a short-lived survival mechanism.

Key features include:

• Physical stillness: Muscles become tense, and movement is reduced.
• Heightened awareness: The individual is hyper-aware of their environment, awaiting the opportune moment to act.
• Adaptive mechanism: The freeze response helps avoid detection by predators or potential threats.

Chronic vs. Functional Freeze

A chronic freeze response, in contrast, occurs when the nervous system remains stuck in a prolonged state of shutdown. This can manifest as emotional numbness, dissociation, or fatigue. Chronic freeze often results from unresolved trauma or ongoing stress and requires a different therapeutic approach.

Theoretical Background

The functional freeze response is mediated by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the dorsal vagal complex of the parasympathetic nervous system. When the brain perceives an inescapable threat, it triggers a freeze state to conserve energy and reduce the likelihood of harm.

This response is an evolutionary survival mechanism seen across species:

• Humans and animals: Freezing helps avoid detection by predators.
• Trauma survivors: It is an automatic response when fight or flight is deemed impossible.

Understanding the freeze response in therapy offers insight into its impact on clients’ emotional regulation and physical health.

Related Concepts:

• Dorsal vagal shutdown: A deeper freeze response marked by extreme immobility and a dissociative state. Symptoms include numbness, fatigue, and emotional shutdown.
• Survival mode: A heightened state of alertness and defense that often accompanies trauma.

Clinical Relevance

The functional freeze response is clinically relevant as it can manifest in therapeutic settings, especially in clients with a history of trauma or high anxiety. Recognizing and addressing this response is crucial for effective therapy, as it can impact clients’ ability to engage in the therapeutic process. Therapeutic interventions aim to help clients understand and manage this response, enhancing their capacity for emotional regulation and resilience.

Examples in Therapy

1. A client feels “frozen” when discussing a past traumatic event, unable to articulate thoughts or feelings.
2. During moments of stress, a client exhibits physical stillness, avoiding eye contact or speech.

Therapeutic Approaches

Therapists can use several evidence-based approaches to help clients manage and resolve the functional freeze response:

• Somatic Experiencing (SE): Focuses on increasing body awareness and helping clients release the physical and emotional energy associated with the freeze response
  Techniques: Gentle body scans, noticing sensations.

• Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Teaches clients to stay present and aware, reducing the likelihood of becoming immobilized by stress
  Techniques: Guided meditations, mindful breathing.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Assists clients in identifying and reframing thoughts that trigger the functional freeze response.
  Techniques: Thought challenging, behavioral experiments

• Polyvagal Theory-Based Interventions: Uses techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve and promote parasympathetic activation, aiding in the transition out of the freeze state.
  Techniques: Humming, safe touch, diaphragmatic breathing.

Tools and Techniques for Clients

Clients can use a variety of strategies to counteract the freeze response and regain a sense of control.

1. Grounding Exercises

• Five Senses Exercise: Name five things you can see, four you can touch, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.
• Physical grounding: Press feet firmly into the ground or hold a textured object.

2. Breathing Techniques

• Diaphragmatic Breathing: Inhale deeply through the nose, allowing the belly to expand, and exhale slowly through the mouth.
• Box Breathing: Inhale for four counts, hold for four, exhale for four, and pause for four.

3. Body Awareness

• Engage in gentle movements like yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, or stretching to release tension and reconnect with the body.

4. Psychoeducation

• Teach clients about the functional freeze response to normalize their experiences and empower them with knowledge.

Challenges and Considerations

Therapists should be mindful of the following when addressing the freeze response:

• Gradual Progress: Clients may require a slow and gentle approach to avoid re-traumatization when addressing the freeze response.
• Individual Variability: Different clients experience and react to the freeze response in unique ways, necessitating personalized therapeutic strategies.
• Therapeutic Alliance: Building a strong, trust-based therapeutic relationship is essential for safely exploring and addressing the functional freeze response.

FAQs: Addressing Common Questions for Mental Health Professionals

As mental health professionals, understanding the nuances of the functional freeze response is critical for effective therapy. Below are frequently asked questions with answers tailored to assist you in working with clients experiencing this response.

1. Why do clients freeze when stressed?

The freeze response is part of the autonomic nervous system's survival mechanism. When the brain perceives a threat as inescapable or overwhelming, it activates the dorsal vagal complex, leading to immobility. This reaction is instinctive and serves to protect the individual by reducing visibility to a perceived threat.

2. How can I recognize the freeze response in my clients?

Look for signs such as:

• Physical stillness or rigidity.
• Flat affect or a noticeable reduction in verbal communication.
• Avoidance of eye contact or minimal movement.
• Expressions of being "stuck," "numb," or "paralyzed."

These symptoms may manifest during sessions when discussing triggering topics or when clients feel overwhelmed.

3. How long does the functional freeze response last?

The duration varies by individual. For many, it is temporary, lasting moments to hours. However, unresolved trauma or chronic stress may extend the freeze response or cause it to become a persistent state. Recognizing the shift from functional to chronic freeze is key to tailoring therapeutic interventions.

4. What techniques help clients transition out of the freeze state?

Encourage interventions that promote grounding, body awareness, and safety, such as:

• Grounding exercises: These reconnect clients to the present moment, reducing feelings of detachment.
• Somatic techniques: Gentle movement or progressive muscle relaxation can release physical tension.
• Polyvagal stimulation: Practices like diaphragmatic breathing or safe touch help activate the ventral vagal pathway, facilitating a sense of calm.

5. How does dorsal vagal shutdown differ from functional freeze?

While the functional freeze response is adaptive and short-lived, dorsal vagal shutdown represents a more extreme, prolonged state of immobility often tied to chronic trauma. Symptoms include:

• Dissociation or emotional numbness.
• Extreme fatigue or lack of energy.
• Feeling disconnected from the body or environment.

Understanding this distinction helps in choosing appropriate interventions, such as somatic experiencing for functional freeze and deeper trauma-focused therapy for dorsal vagal shutdown.

6. How can psychoeducation about the freeze response benefit clients?

Educating clients about the freeze response can:

• Normalize their experiences, reducing shame or confusion.
• Empower them to recognize triggers and practice self-regulation techniques.
• Provide a framework for understanding the physical and emotional components of their response.

For example, explaining the role of the autonomic nervous system and the dorsal vagal complex helps clients see the freeze response as a protective mechanism rather than a personal failing.

7. What challenges might I face in addressing the freeze response, and how can I overcome them?

• Re-traumatization risk: Clients may feel overwhelmed if approached too quickly. Use a slow, titrated approach to avoid triggering deeper shutdown.
• Varied presentations: Clients exhibit freeze responses differently. Tailor interventions to their specific needs and capacities.
• Building trust: A strong therapeutic alliance is essential for safely exploring immobilized states. Foster an environment of safety and support to help clients feel comfortable addressing their freeze response.

Final Thoughts

Recognizing and addressing the functional freeze response is essential for effective therapy and overall mental health. By  integrating somatic, cognitive, and mindfulness techniques, therapists can help clients transition out of immobility and build resilience. Despite the challenges, personalized and consistent application of these techniques can lead to significant improvements in managing the freeze response. Recognizing the difference between functional freeze and chronic freeze enables tailored interventions, fostering healing and growth.

By addressing these responses with care and expertise, therapists empower clients to regain control, navigate challenges, and thrive.