We all learned in Psych 101 about fight-or-flight, right?. You’re faced with an attack or a high-stress situation and your response is typically one of two options – you face it and beat it down, or you run like hell.
What if it’s not either?
I never really got this. I mean… I’m a lover not a fighter, so I never really felt like I was someone who’d put up my dukes when things heated up. But I never really felt like I was running from anything either.
Instead, I tend to kind of hold it all in. Stop. Break down somewhere between tackling things head on and running in the opposite direction. No wonder I’ve run into my fair share of anxiety issues, right?
Right.
A flat tire
And then I was in this yoga class over the weekend – this chakra workshop, which I’d kind of done before. This one focused on the first two chakras – your root (muladhara) chakra and your second (swadhisthana) chakra, and before we even get started with the class, we were given some background on these wheels of energy in our bodies and what happens when energy gets “stuck” at any one of these places.
She starts talking about “fight, flight or freeze.”
FREEZE? You mean, there was a third option?
Immediately, I identified with that third, and it was like a light bulb went off. Not everyone fights, not everyone runs. Some of us – a LOT of us – freeze. To fight releases energy and we don’t find ourselves storing the emotions that come with not moving. The wheels keep turning. Same with flight – we’re still moving, expending energy that allows to work through something – one way or another.
For me, and for anyone else who can relate to this – we miss that release. This explains SO much of what I called my adrenaline cycle, right? Why I sometimes (albeit rarely) just break down in panic mode because I need a release for all of that pent-up adrenaline, or energy.
A healthier approach
They (whoever “they” are) have done studies on this need to move. A possum was observed in a stressful situation, facing an attacker. The possum – as is its defense mechanism, right? – played dead until the threat was gone. When the attacking animal left, the possum was observed lying on his back but moving his arms and legs as though running away – the energy of the stress still needed a place to go, even though to play possum was the animal’s nature-given way of dealing with stress.
This was kind of a “duh” moment for me, but after or during moments of “freezing” like this, I always feel a surge of adrenaline – a need to RUN or walk or do something to get the energy out of my system. Sometimes, I honor that and life returns to normal. Sometimes I don’t, and I think that’s probably when the panic attacks happen. Ok, of course it is.
Granted, I’ve only had one real “glitch” in the last couple of years, but I’m almost always operating in a heightened state of adrenaline – go, go, go, get this done; always moving on to the next project.
One thing I learned after this weekend is that part of the balance I need in my life is rest. The other part? Is action.
I'm Doniree. I live in Portland, Oregon where I practice yoga, obsess about the local farmers' markets and vineyards, and work from home or one of my many favorite coffee shops. I also 
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I am definitely a "freeze" person. And it's interesting that you don't really hear about that response when talking about human defense mechanisms…always about animals… deer in the headlights, playing possum.
I wonder why we do that.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..To heal the state of man =-.
I mean, we’re animals too, right? On some level, we’re wired the same way – we just have the added benefit (if you see it that way, ha) of having a cognitive response to that instinctive reaction.
I think that’s where all my wires get crossed, ha.
Animals are instinctive. Besides eating, sleeping & pooping, they always feel hunted. Humans can reason and think things through. Possums 'play dead' because God wired them that way. Deer, like many in the animal kingdom, run like the wind when threatened.
As a whole we do not feel hunted. Here's a far out scenario; the next time you are attacked by an animal (think bear, wolf, etc) play possum. I think you'll end up din-din for said animal(s).
What about the "deer-in-the-headlights" expression because deer also actually just freeze? And to counter this a little – my "predators" aren't the same as say, a possum's – my "attackers" are stressors be it pressure, conflict, deadlines, a perceived threat to safety (real or imagined), heartbreak, etc… not a bear, wolf, etc.
That makes so much more sense. I also tend to freeze, to bottle it all up, to keep it inside, and just hope that it goes away, whatever it is. (Even though internally I'm working everything out in my head, I just don't like to let on that I am working through things.) During the freeze period I tend to need a release of adrenaline as well… usually running. Thanks for sharing the new information!
.-= Nora´s last blog ..Promises to my Future Self =-.
I like this, a lot. I’ve never heard about the freeze option and I’m taking Psych 101 RIGHT NOW. Um.
After a stressful day, I always always always have to run or workout. I end up lying awake for hours thinking otherwise. It’s like my brain won’t shut off…?
.-= Taylor´s last blog ..Life List =-.
Interesting! And after what I’ve learned recently – not surprising! I think it’s healthy to feel the need to run after a stressful day – I should DEFINITELY take that cue more often.
For the most part, I'll snap to defend myself, but I have definitely frozen on many occasions. I get flustered and just can't get out of this situation–it really does sound like balance and rest are key to resolving things in a more confident way.
.-= Her´s last blog ..Gobbledygook =-.
wow, this reminded me of how I reacted during the earthquake yesterday. I just sat at my desk frozen kind of wondering what my next step should be. I'm hoping if it came down to it, some better instinct might kick in. lol! But it a lot of other instances, I tend to freeze too, because I try to really think about the situation before I react to it. I neither run nor fight. Sometimes I wish I would do one or the other, because I tend to overthink everything.
.-= Tonya´s last blog ..Cool stuff that makes my life easier =-.
I'm wondering if 'freezing' is a cultural or psychological development as fight / flight seems to be animal instinct. And if so… where is its origin?
Even if such is the case, I'm sure there's a reason that inaction exists as a possible response, so it has to be useful somehow even though the reasons aren't that apparent.
Or, maybe your post is on to something. It takes inaction to come to realize what is its opposite.
.-= nicopolitan´s last blog ..Does Not Compute =-.
I see the "freeze" moment as a processing time when your body and mind are trying to sync up and decide whether it's worth it to fight or flee. Like, if you haven't experienced something before and you've got no base to reference, it's likely that you might hesitate before taking decisive action. This happens to me. However, there are certain situations where I'm certain I'll flight and certain I'll flee, based on past experiences and current values. Especially if I keep putting myself into difficult situations where I can benefit and grow. Then you develop a muscle memory of the mind when it comes to a tough choice.
Good post!
.-= JR Moreau´s last blog ..Lateral, Exponential and Co-Symmetrical Personal Growth =-.
This was such an insightful post, Doniree! I think I identify with the "freeze" a lot of the time as well. I like that you call it "playing possum." LOL! Many times though, I think I do fight, and occasionally, I have been known to flee. I don't think everyone fits into any one of the responses all of the time, unless you're a possum. I think we, as human, gauge the situation, then decide the proper response — although we may be disposed toward one or the other, or the other.
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