Nevermind fight or flight... how about freeze?

I don't experience panic attacks all that often compared to a lot of other sufferers, and they're usually caused by triggers that I'm consciously aware of (which makes my anxiety feel cheaper somehow, idk). But I've never responded to anxiety with the typical "fight" or "flight" stuff, and only until way recently did I discover that "freeze" (tonic immobility?) was a legit thing.

I've noticed that I seem to physically freeze up in response to a lot of stressful situations, but the attacks I've had previously did involve feeling almost paralyzed, unable to talk or make noise, and feeling that I could stay perfectly still and perfectly quiet practically forever or until the bad thoughts/situation was over. I never feel like I'm going to die, though, except for the one time it was so bad that I wanted to die. Generally tho I just feel an overwhelming sense of "badness". And this is on top of all the other stuff, too: cold sweats, heart palpitations, migraines. When I come out of it I ache everywhere and feel dissociated.

I freeze up in a lot of situations that are stressful but not enough to trigger a panic episode. My whole body tenses up, I have a harder time speaking, I avoid eye contact. For some reason, maybe it's because of my history of abuse, I'm capable of experiencing distress like this without really... responding to it? Like I'm too good at ignoring it? I get cold sweats and heart palpitations almost daily, though...

Does anyone else experience "freeze" instead of the other two? What do the other two feel like? I honestly can't imagine what it could possibly be like to have the energy and mind to get away from a bad situation, or make it stop, rather than being forced to "wait it out" like how TI makes me respond to panic.

My social anxiety makes me freeze up and look like a freak when people talk to me. But when I get a panic attack it is all flight. I just want to escape. I get similar symptoms to you, heart palpitations, cold sweats migraines, as well as chest pain, dizziness, and others. My brain is telling me if I don't get away I will die. All I care about is getting somewhere safe. I get filled with nervous energy and I shake and pace.

Hi Robutts ~ Yeah, I've had that happen before too, in the past. I don't experience the "panics" anymore, thankfully but when I did they were miserable.

Have you visited the Survivors of Abuse? Since you mentioned you were abused, I think it would be a good idea if you did, and perhaps shared what happened, if you feel comfortable doing so. The folks there will certainly understand, as they've been there. And by sharing what happened, it COULD help you get rid of some of the panic. It MIGHT help -- who knows? It's worth a try anyway.

Just thought I'd mention it, cause I had to see you suffering. Please take care and God bless, Robutts. And if you ever want to talk, just message me, okay? Hugs, Lee

I freeze, but it's usually at home when I get overwhelmed with anxiety or stress, or if something (like a phone call, or the topic within the call) shocks or surprises me to a point where I become too stressed to deal.
I will literally stay in one position, and usually not a comfortable or logical one, and stare at something (usually one point) for an extended period of time until I feel I can move again. I don't even know if I have ever asked about it tho (...in therapy, but I should).
I know I can also do fight or flight if necessary and in a more open situation with people around, and if I am not drowning in my own emotions or anxiety. I am sorry this happens to you, too...and yours sounds very painful. Hugs to you.

I experience freezing up a lot. I didnt use to when i got panic attacks, but now when i get them i tend to freeze up and shake. Its scary, not as bad as it was though. I just try to think of something positive or talk to somebody.

The shaking is awful! (I know that when I start to shake I find myself trying to make it stop so I can be "perfectly" still.)

Freezing is more of a complex PTSD issue vs a normal anxiety or even regular PTSD where the response is "fight or flight". As children we don't have that fight or flight response and instead we just freeze and go into a dissociative state to survive our abuses.

But what if you were never abused? I wasn't (and yes, I am sure.). I don't have PTSD. And I don't ever remember "freezing" as a child, nor do I technically disassociate. It's more about feeling so overwhelmed by things that I freeze and don't/can't do ANYTHING instead of EVERYTHING I need to be doing. Mine is more about just anxiety.

I don't really know then. And PTSD doesn't always result from abuse or neglect. It could be from witnessing something horrific and it's possible not to remember the actual event but have subconscious reactions to the experience nonetheless. It can also be from feeling helpless in a situation that was traumatizing to the individual. Not saying that you have it, just some insight.

thanks for starting this post, robutt. i used to have panic attacks, and experienced anxiety for ages, sometimes worse than others. i still have strong stress reactions, but those too are abating. what i thought was interesting is: i had never talked to anyone who USED to have panic attacks, complete with chemical terror, shaking, melting, crying and even wetting oneself, who then worked to change that into just freezing, as i have done.

i still have fairly severe agoraphobia, being unable to go out of the house without accompaniment. i go to the door, all forgetful and thinking, i'll just go out on the porch and check that (,,, whatever, take out the trash,,, ) and there at the door i stand. nothing moves. "reach for that doorknob" i tell myself. no one is listening. "move , MOVE~!" nothing. finally i understand that FREEZE won again, and i can turn away, put the trash back in it's bin, go lay down. i'm in shock, all the signs are there, cold, white, stupid (cognitively impaired). and the recovery time is similar to panic attacks... about 15 minutes if i remember to eat something sweet.

i really have never told anyone all of this, and again, i thank you, for giving me the opportunity to see what is happening to me , in words, in writing. if i could cry, i would be.


Gus