When we are in a Freeze response, it is a signal from the nervous system that it does not feel safe. You may not actually be in any real harm but it does not know the difference. This is a sign that something is off, the nervous system is dysregulated and wants (and needs) to be balanced.

There might be something about the situation that is causing us to not feel safe and as a protective mechanism the nervous system says "run!" "Get away from this danger!" "avoid at all costs!"

how often do we do this? How often do we define our dreams (and ourselves) based off of trauma and outside influences? How often do we choose (and stay in) jobs, relationships, schools, etc. based off of dysregulated nervous systems and definitions of success that were never ours to begin with?

Have you ever gotten cut off in traffic and felt your heart rate increase? Your breathing get a little more shallow? And if you’re really on one you may even yell out some expletives or even worse, try to pull up next to them at some point and let them see how pissed you are 👀?