Freeze / trauma loop

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huimaa
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24 Apr 2020, 4:06 am

Anyone else have experiences with extreme cases of the freeze / trauma loop, where you feel completely frozen, unable to even walk for long because your nervous system is so stressed out, hijacked by overwhelming unprocessed emotions?

I experienced a betrayal of trust two months ago and ever since I've been in this state, first I could still function but now it's so bad it's almost impossible to live independently (as I live on my own). How could I break this cycle and be able to function again, I don't really know what to do, other than try to make my family help me out and understand what is going on, although they really don't. I feel scared and alone.

Dear_one
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24 Apr 2020, 8:11 am

You can re-build calmness and confidence by paying lots of attention to your breath going in and out. Then, when you are calmer, set small goals - make one meal, or clean just a small area, etc.

Fnord
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24 Apr 2020, 10:04 am

huimaa wrote:

A few times; but I didn't let myself stay in those loops. There's more to life than obsessing about past events.

Throwaway2
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24 Apr 2020, 10:14 am

one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

Fnord
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24 Apr 2020, 10:15 am

Throwaway2 wrote:

... one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

I have.

Throwaway2
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24 Apr 2020, 10:19 am

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

... one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

I have.

course you did
were you pulling your bootstraps as well

Fnord
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24 Apr 2020, 10:20 am

Throwaway2 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

... one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

I have.

... were you pulling your bootstraps as well

Of course. What's your problem with that?

Throwaway2
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24 Apr 2020, 10:23 am

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

... one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

I have.

... were you pulling your bootstraps as well

Of course. What's your problem with that?

not eveyone wears boots

Fnord
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24 Apr 2020, 10:32 am

Throwaway2 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

... one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

I have.

... were you pulling your bootstraps as well

Of course. What's your problem with that?

not eveyone wears boots

Not everyone has feet, either; so what's your point?

jimmy m
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24 Apr 2020, 10:52 am

huimaa wrote:

Aspies experience significantly more stress than the average NT. I should almost be our middle name. Stress unless it is vented can turn to distress and trauma. This is a list of the signs of trauma:

* Deer in the headlight frozen expression
* Paleness and racing heartbeat
* Terrified speechless
* Disruptive behavior
* Anger, irritability, mood swings, edginess
* Hyperactive
* Poor concentration
* Demonstrating poor impulse control
* Lethargic, lack of energy
* Depressed
* Shock, denial, or disbelief
* Confusion, feeling out of control
* Anxiety and fear
* Night terrors
* Guilt, shame and self-blame
* Withdrawing from others
* Feeling sad and hopeless
* Feeling disconnected or numb, spacey
* Hyper-focus on mortality or death
* Loss of appetite or overeating
* Obsessive-compulsive behavior
* Avoidance behavior

This sounds like your current state. If you can learn effective ways to release your built up stress energy, then your body can return back to its normal state and trauma will melt away.

I will recommend a couple books that explain trauma and how to vent stress energy.

"In an Unspoken Voice" by Peter A. Levine
"The Revolutionary Trauma Release Process" by David Berceli

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huimaa
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24 Apr 2020, 3:23 pm

^ thank you very much for the recommendations.

I'm aware that I have to do something about my current situation, it has gotten too far. I have a history of pushing through with mere adrenaline and then I crash...

Breathwork techniques can definitely work out, I will try those. And also do my best to focus on other things than the cause of the trauma.

Thank you everyone for the replies.

lliam420
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25 Apr 2020, 1:04 am

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

Throwaway2 wrote:

... one does not just step out of a freeze / trauma loop and stop obsessing pmsl

I have.

... were you pulling your bootstraps as well

Of course. What's your problem with that?

not eveyone wears boots

Not everyone has feet, either; so what's your point?

some are naturally better equipped than others. if i can, you can, doesn't always apply

Fnord
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25 Apr 2020, 2:43 pm

lliam420 wrote:

some are naturally better equipped than others. if i can, you can, doesn't always apply

I never claimed it did. Here's what I really think:

• If I can do it, then it can be done (ipso-facto).

• If someone else can do it, and has not tried, then maybe they should.

• If someone else cannot do it, then maybe they could try something else.

• Regardless, merely complaining about lack of success is pointless, especially when done repeatedly, so why don't the chronic complainers just STHU?

lliam420
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27 Apr 2020, 1:37 am

Fnord wrote:

lliam420 wrote:

some are naturally better equipped than others. if i can, you can, doesn't always apply

maybe they like seeing you chronically complain about them

Fnord
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27 Apr 2020, 8:39 am

lliam420 wrote:

Fnord wrote:

lliam420 wrote:

some are naturally better equipped than others. if i can, you can, doesn't always apply

maybe they like seeing you chronically complain about them ...

In the interest of full disclosure, I have always suspected that at least some chronic complainers do it just for the attention, especially those who seem to be completely uninterested in possible solutions to their problems.

magz
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28 Apr 2020, 2:22 am

huimaa wrote:

I learned those breath techniques and they are useful to carry on for a while longer but they don't stretch indifinitely. Ultimately, you need to process those emotions to heal. They may be extra hard, they may require dedicating special time to them, maybe professional help.
In my case, I was able to suck it up, dissociate form the pain and go on for years before it all finally collapsed in a giant mental breakdown. I don't recommend it.
"Lingering on the past" may be pointless but taking time to process your traumatic emotions is the way you heal. After I could finally process my own emotions from the past, the traumatic memories faded and I naturally stopped "lingering" on them. I couldn't do it without a therapist and only the third one was able to help me, so have patience for yourself.

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