What to expect when the freeze response hits

In your healing journey you will go through phases where some old traumas will come up to the surface to be integrated.

When this happens:

• Be kind to yourself.

• Recognise that the body is going through a trigger and this needs to be honoured. It was this very response that saved you and kept you alive until this point.

• Instead of pushing to get rid of the symptom you can slow down.

• Do the basics without berating yourself for not being able to do more.

The nervous system contracts and expands. It has a natural rhythm. So gently reminding yourself that this is not forever can help you realise that your body just needs a little break to process this.

For those of us who come from a history of many different types of traumas and/or early traumas, it’s important to realise that with the right support the body can and will “release” and integrate these traumas, but it’s equally important to notice that the process can take a little bit of time, as slow and gentle is the only way to integrate trauma without retraumatizing your system.

Be patient with yourself and use your resources to get through the trigger phases.