Managing the Freeze Response: Dissociation, Emotional Shutdown, and Creating Safety | Being Well [Video]

What do dissociation, avoidance, and shutdown all have in common? They’re connected to the “freeze” response to stress. In one of my favorite episodes to date, Dr. Rick joins me to explore the freeze response in detail.

We talk about what stress responses are, how they impact our behavior, and why different people tend to default to different coping strategies. I explain what freezing looks like in practice, and why the freeze response can be particularly difficult to navigate. Rick then shares a number of helpful strategies for working with the freeze response, including strengthening self-confidence, and the feeling of ourselves as someone who can create safety. Towards the end of the episode we discuss managing these tendencies in a relationship.

Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
0:55 Understanding stress responses
9:05 Asking if your stress response serves your relationships
15:35 Why it’s hard to see that you’re freezing
19:20 Dissociation, and what freezing looks like in practice
24:25 Steps of moving through dissociation
29:45 Self-awareness, ‘global’ conditioning, and unconditional positive regard
38:20 How Rick would work with someone who freezes: a case study
53:55 Seeing yourself as a source of safety
1:03:30 Recap

Offer from Dr. Rick: If you’d like to improve your self-worth, check out Rick’s new 4-hour, live online workshop. You’ll learn methods and practices that can actually change your brain and your habits, so you start nurturing your sense of worth and belonging. Our listeners can get 20% off with coupon code BeingWell20. https://selfworthworkshop.com/

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Who Am I: I’m Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (https://amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (https://apple.co/38ufGG0). I’m making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.

I’m not a clinician, and what I say on this channel should not be taken as medical advice.

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