Your Fear Response is “Freeze”
A high score in this fear response suggests that you’re more likely to zone out when confronted with a potentially dangerous, stressful, or scary situation.
Definition of the
Freeze Response
The “freeze” response is generally used because you are fearful, afraid to make a mistake, fear being judged, feel forced to perform an action, or you’re simply not in the mood to deal with the situation at hand.
This response is based on the idea that “If I don’t do anything, the threat can’t hurt me” or “If I don’t do anything, I can’t mess it up.”
Coping Mechanism:
5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Grounding Exercise
Focus on what is currently happening, do not get down on your own thoughts. Use the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Grounding exercise. In this exercise use all of your 5 senses:
5 – THINGS I SEE.
Look for five things you see around you.
4 – THINGS I FEEL.
Feel 4 things in with your skin. Be sensitive to what is happening. Feel the sensation in your skin.
3 – THINGS I HEAR.
Listen to 3 things you hear around you.
2 – THINGS I SMELL.
Smell two distinct scents in your surroundings.
1 – A THING I TASTE.
What do you currently taste in your mouth?
Feel free to download a copy of this freeze response coping mechanism!
The following have been selected for you to help you gain more important insights and understandings of the dynamics at play:
Recommended Video:
The 5-4-3-2-1 Method: A Grounding Exercise to Manage Anxiety
Recommended Product:
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise Worksheet
Recommended Reading:
Stuck In A Freeze Fear Response, Should I Be Worried?
4 Fear Responses: “Fight”, “Flight”, “Freeze”, and “Fawn” in Movies
Stuck In A Freeze Fear Response, Should I Be Worried?
Have you ever been too stunned to speak? What will you do if you find out one day that your significant other is upset with you? Are you going to talk to her/him about it, or are you going to do nothing and let her express her emotions to you? Or if you’re in an...
Fawning: The Not-Well-Known Fourth Fear Response
“You’ve got a “Fawn” Fear Response.” This is what your result was when you answered our Fear Response Quiz. (If you haven't taken the quiz yet, take the Fear Response Quiz now.) Now you might be wondering, what exactly is “Fawn”? When you think of fear responses, you...
4 Fear Responses: “Fight”, “Flight”, “Freeze”, and “Fawn” in Movies
You find yourself struggling with how to respond when faced with fear. Whether it's a big or small challenge, fear is a part of life that we all have to face at some point. And the truth is, we all have our own unique way of responding to it. You may have a “fight",...
4 TYPES OF
Fear Responses
Fight Response
Flight Response
Freeze Response
Fawn Response
Reaching out for help is always essential.
If you are worried about your mental or physical state or both, be sure to make yourself a priority. Our therapists at Shirley Therapeutic and Consulting Services can aid in rooting the underlying causes of these overwhelming feelings.