Frozen By Fear? Yah, It Happens!

The pressure is on. the threat is before you. You've gotta do something so…you freeze, you lock up. So, what’s up with that?  You may have heard of the classic fight or flight response which means that when confronted with a pressure packed, fearful or dangerous situation, most people will be adrenalized to do one of two things -  stand and fight or run like heck!

However there is a third possible response and that is what I’m talking about : freezing up.

You know the look- a person standing still, eyes open wide and their mouth agape, seemingly in shock.  Psychologists say it is an extension of a 'surprise' response and it occurs when, for whatever reason, we can’t run or fight.  We are then genuinely overwhelmed and this paralyzing freeze occurs!

Science believe that when it does, our primitive brain takes over and we go into an automatic self preservation shutdown along the lines of a “maybe if I don’t move and don't make a sound I won’t be noticed” mode, so we lock up until the threat passes.

Interestingly enough we really do "lock" up as many people who do "freeze" report little or no memory of the trauma, which scientists think might help protect them from psychological harm. (Daily Mail)