Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 1120945

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Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?

Posted by Lamdage22 on October 31, 2022, at 1:55:43

Does anybody have this that when they get anxiety, they do not get a fight or flight response but play possum?

This seems to be the case for me.

Re: Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?

Posted by Hugh on October 31, 2022, at 13:02:59

In reply to Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?, posted by Lamdage22 on October 31, 2022, at 1:55:43

I've had the fight/flight response to anxiety, and I've had the freeze response to anxiety as well.

Stephen Porges, a psychiatry professor at Indiana University and at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill came up with the Polyvagal Theory. Dr. Porges's Polyvagal Theory posits that there are three states:

Social engagement (connected)
Fight/flight
Freeze (shut down, disconnected)

Porges developed an auricular vagal nerve stimulation program called SSP (Safe and Sound Protocol). This treatment helps people who are stuck in a state of either hypervigilance or hypoarousal to shift to a state of social engagement.

There are SSP therapists in over 50 countries. I posted this about my experiences with SSP:

http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20220530/msgs/1119934.html

Re: Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?

Posted by undopaminergic on October 31, 2022, at 16:38:11

In reply to Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?, posted by Lamdage22 on October 31, 2022, at 1:55:43

> Does anybody have this that when they get anxiety, they do not get a fight or flight response but play possum?
>
> This seems to be the case for me.

Very strong fear, called terror, can produce a freezing response.

-undopaminergic

Re: Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?

Posted by sigismund on November 1, 2022, at 23:26:44

In reply to Re: Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?, posted by undopaminergic on October 31, 2022, at 16:38:11

>Very strong fear, called terror, can produce a freezing response.

Exactly

Re: Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?

Posted by Roslynn on November 5, 2022, at 15:20:58

In reply to Anxiety: Not fight/flight, but shutdown?, posted by Lamdage22 on October 31, 2022, at 1:55:43

I have the freeze response as well.

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