When something happens that I did not expect, I feel as though I freeze. It feels as though the cogs in my brain have come to a halt! This freezing happens for at least two reasons:
1. I struggle with flexible thinking (a part of executive function), which means it is hard to imagine or work out alternative outcomes to things
2. I feel highly anxious, because something has happened unexpectedly. Remember that to 'freeze' is one of the three primary responses to anxiety (the other two are fight and flight).
I created an animation to explain The Freeze Response and to provide a strategy that really helps me to deal with it. You can watch it below. I hope you enjoy it!
