I am not broken because my body feels anxious, tight, or out of control.<\/p>\n
My body is doing exactly what it was designed to do: protect me.<\/p>\n
For most of my life, I didn\u2019t understand what was happening inside of me. I just knew I felt\u2026 tense. Tight. Like I was holding on for dear life. I used to say that all the time\u2014\u201cI feel like I\u2019m holding on to something.\u201d<\/em> And now I know: I was.<\/p>\n Not because I\u2019m weak. Since being introduced to meditation, mind-body connection work, and the teachings of Dr. Joe Dispenza, something has shifted in me.<\/p>\n For the first time, I feel like I\u2019m actually understanding my body\u2014not fighting it.<\/p>\n And that changed everything.<\/p>\n Because here\u2019s what I\u2019ve come to believe after tons<\/em> of research and deep inner work:<\/p>\n There is no one-size-fits-all healing protocol.<\/strong> We don\u2019t all develop illness for the same reasons. So why would we all heal the same way?<\/p>\n Our symptoms\u2026 our patterns\u2026 our emotional wiring\u2014these are deeply personal.<\/p>\n And if we\u2019re willing to explore them instead of suppress them, they can become our greatest teachers.<\/p>\n Not here to hurt us. Our brains and nervous systems were designed for one primary purpose: safety<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Back when humans were facing real, life-threatening danger, the fight, flight, or freeze response was essential. It kept us alive.<\/p>\n But today?<\/p>\n We\u2019re not being chased by predators.<\/p>\n We\u2019re dealing with emails, bills, expectations, pressure, relationships\u2014and yet our bodies respond the same way as if our life is at risk.<\/p>\n That\u2019s where the disconnect happens.<\/p>\n A dysregulated nervous system doesn\u2019t mean something is wrong with you. And that matters more than we realize.<\/p>\n The autonomic nervous system has two main branches:<\/p>\n Sympathetic (Fight or Flight):<\/strong> Parasympathetic (Rest and Digest):<\/strong> And then there\u2019s the one I didn\u2019t understand for most of my life:<\/p>\n Freeze.<\/strong><\/p>\n The freeze response happens when the body feels overwhelmed\u2014when fighting or fleeing doesn\u2019t feel possible. So instead, it shuts down.<\/p>\n Still. Tight. Immobile.<\/p>\n That\u2019s me.<\/p>\n That has always been me.<\/p>\n When I\u2019m stressed, I don\u2019t rise to the occasion\u2014I freeze. My muscles tighten, my mind blanks, and I feel like I can\u2019t move forward.<\/p>\n For years I judged that.<\/p>\n Now I understand it.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s something that changed everything for me:<\/p>\n Your nervous system doesn\u2019t learn safety through logic. It learns through experience.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can know<\/em> you\u2019re safe and still feel completely unsafe in your body.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because healing doesn\u2019t happen through thinking\u2014it happens through feeling<\/em>.<\/p>\n Through repetition. That\u2019s where mindfulness comes in.<\/p>\n Not as a way to \u201cfix\u201d anxiety\u2026 It\u2019s not about sitting still for an hour.<\/p>\n It\u2019s small moments.<\/p>\n Feeling your feet on the ground. Simple things that gently bring you back to the present moment\u2014because presence is where safety lives.<\/strong><\/p>\n Some tools that have helped me:<\/p>\n Not perfectly. Just consistently.<\/p>\n For so long, I thought I needed to control everything to feel safe.<\/p>\n Now I see the truth:<\/p>\n I don\u2019t need more control. I need more safety.<\/strong><\/p>\n So instead of asking: I ask: That question softens everything.<\/p>\n It turns pressure into partnership. If you feel stuck\u2026 frozen\u2026 overwhelmed\u2026<\/p>\n It\u2019s not because you\u2019re failing.<\/p>\n It\u2019s because part of you is trying to protect you.<\/p>\n And maybe\u2014just maybe\u2014what you need isn\u2019t more discipline, more pressure, or more \u201cfixing\u201d\u2026<\/p>\n But more compassion.<\/p>\n More listening. I truly believe this:<\/p>\n We are not meant to be defined by other people\u2019s opinions, diagnoses, or limitations.<\/strong><\/p>\n The only voice that ultimately matters is your own.<\/p>\n Stop people-pleasing\u2014it will never lead you to freedom. You are not perfect. And if you believe in God like I do\u2014then you know this:<\/p>\n God doesn\u2019t make mistakes.<\/strong><\/p>\n Everything\u2014yes, everything\u2014has a purpose.<\/p>\n Even this.<\/p>\n Especially this.<\/p>\n Before you move on, pause for a moment.<\/p>\n Notice one place in your life where you tend to push yourself\u2026 override yourself\u2026 ignore what your body is telling you.<\/p>\n And ask:<\/p>\n \u201cWhat would support look like right now?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n You don\u2019t need to solve anything.<\/p>\n Just asking begins the shift.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t need more pressure.<\/p>\n You need a safer place to begin.<\/p>\n And that place isn\u2019t somewhere outside of you\u2026<\/p>\n It\u2019s something you build, moment by moment, within yourself.<\/p>\n And I truly believe this:<\/p>\n You\u2019re already on your way.<\/strong><\/p>\n The post Holding Still to Stay Safe: My Experience with the Freeze Response<\/a> first appeared on My Self-healing Journey<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Not because my body is failing me.
But because my nervous system learned, a long time ago, that it had to.<\/p>\n
\nMy Healing Journey: Mind, Body, and Awareness<\/h3>\n
Especially with something like MS.<\/p>\n
But to protect us.
To keep us alive.<\/p>\n
\nThe Nervous System: Built for Survival, Not Modern Life<\/h3>\n
It means your body doesn\u2019t feel<\/em> safe.<\/p>\n
\nUnderstanding What\u2019s Happening in the Body<\/h3>\n
This is your activation mode. Your heart races, your breathing quickens, your body prepares for action. It\u2019s survival energy.<\/p>\n
This is where healing happens. Your body slows down, digests, repairs, and restores.<\/p>\n
\nRewiring Safety Instead of Forcing Change<\/h3>\n
Through presence.
Through showing your body, again and again:
\u201cWe\u2019re okay now.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
But as a way to build a new relationship with it.<\/p>\n
\nWhat Mindfulness Really Looks Like<\/h3>\n
Placing your hand on your chest and breathing.
Noticing the light in the room.<\/p>\n\n
\nA Powerful Shift: From Control to Safety<\/h3>\n
\u201cHow do I make myself do this?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cWhat would help me feel safe enough to take one step?\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n
Force into understanding.
Fear into curiosity.<\/p>\n
\nYou Are Not the Problem<\/h3>\n
More space.
More safety.<\/p>\n
\nMy Truth About Healing<\/h3>\n
Stop forcing yourself into someone else\u2019s version of healing.<\/p>\n
But you are perfectly imperfect.<\/p>\n
\nA Gentle Invitation<\/h3>\n
\nFinal Thoughts<\/h3>\n