The Complex PTSD Freeze Response
You dissociate to protect the still functional parts of yourself.
When you disconnect, your energy becomes more present in the upper body and more disconnected from the lower body. It is usually the diaphragm that keeps a lid on the unresolved emotions that remain in the belly area.
You dissociate to protect the still functional parts of yourself.
Alongside this disconnection, you will likely default to some form of substance or behavioral addiction to cope with your excessive stress.
Fragmentation & The Complex PTSD Freeze Response
This is a good thing in the sense that you do not feel constantly overwhelmed.
It is a not so good thing because this fragmentation causes secondary problems of addiction, short attention span, inability to focus and get things done, not being sensitive to the needs of your body, and often feeling somewhat depressed or numb.
It is a bit of a "damned if you do (reconnect = getting overwhelmed), damned if you don't (stay disconnected = not feeling alive)."
It is a real dilemma!
To unwind and unfold trauma, you need to go carefully in and out of the emotional residue that is stored in the body.
Working Through The Complex PTSD Freeze Response
A trauma informed therapist can be a great help, but it is just really hard to find them!
And, working with a therapist who is NOT attuned to your needs and individual process can add insult to injury.
To help you gradually reconnect with the body and process emotional residue, I have created The Trauma Care Resources.
Included are somatic meditations that guide you step by step through the different parts of the body where emotion is held and how they relate to the different "mind" states of; disconnection/depression, excessive thinking, loss/grief/sadness, anger, anxiety, and the fight, flight, please-appease, and freeze responses.
These guided meditations put the emphasis on working on your containment and building resilience, without getting overwhelmed, so that you can safely process your emotional residue.
Check out exactly what you are getting and get started - RIGHT HERE
To your recovery,
Roland
I am always wary when someone pitches meditation for cptsd / ptsd, as for many, its very dysregulating
Yes, I have addressed that here – https://rolandbal.com/trauma-care-02/