I think it’s like the “freeze” mechanism as opposed to fight or flight, but it’s triggered a lot of times when I want or need to do something and I’m fighting between what’s best for me vs for others, what’s most productive vs giving myself a break, etc. On a daily basis it means sitting and doing nothing for a long time and hating myself for not doing anything while I fight to get myself to just do SOMETHING. I feel like this is more common, with how much everyone seems to be trained to think if you arent being productive you dont deserve to exist. But there’s also another way it’s a huge issue for me.

When it’s more of a trigger, it happens when I’m in a social situation, esp with people I care a lot about, when I get angry or hurt and part of me tries to fight that because It’s unreasonable to be that upset. Then, to avoid hurting anyone and becoming a worse person, I become catatonic. Frozen with indecision and self hatred in an attempt to pull myself together (which I never can) or make the right decision. Most times I’ll feel very heavy and I’ll move slowly or not at all. but it’s all triggered by my own internal fight with myself over the smallest external issues.

So does anyone else get that? And more importantly, does anyone have any tips on how to pull myself out of it? Thank you all.