Stuck in Functional Freeze? Start With Small Doses of Safety

You push yourself through every day, and the push never gets easier. What will surprise you is that the way out of functional freeze starts smaller than you think, and that safety itself can feel scary at first. ➡ Full show notes + resources In this solo episode, Dr. Aimie explains why the body holds on to a freeze response, why we cannot think our way out of it, and the order the body follows to come back out: safety, support, then expansion. She walks you through a one-minute microdosing safety practice, explains why too much safety too fast can bring rebound anxiety, and shares how to give your freeze short, planned time instead of fighting it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: 00:00 How do you get out of functional freeze? 00:59 What is functional freeze? 03:02 Why doesn't the freeze go away on its own? 05:32 Safety, support, then expansion 07:15 A microdosing safety practice 11:44 Why feeling safe can feel scary 15:31 Stop fighting the freeze 19:21 How to practice a full collapse "For a nervous system that has been in fear its whole life, bringing it a moment of safety can feel scary." ~ Dr. Aimie Apigian If you are always pushing through and can't seem to rest, this episode is for you. RESOURCES: Take the free 2-Minute Assessment for Stored Trauma and find out which pattern of stored trauma your body has been running. Get The Biology of Trauma book. Chapter 12, "The Map and Framework for the Journey." This episode is educational and is not medical advice. Please work with your own qualified healthcare provider for decisions about your care. Grab your copy of The Biology of Trauma