Episode 9: What is One Thing the Freeze Response Needs for Healing? (Part 2) with Dr. Arielle Schwartz
- THA Operations
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
The One Thing You Won't Want to Hear
You want to know how to get out of freeze faster. You're tired of feeling stuck, disconnected, and shut down. You're ready for the technique, the protocol, and the shortcut that finally works.
I'm going to tell you something you don't want to hear, something that goes against everything our culture teaches about healing, productivity, and progress.
The freeze response needs one thing above all else: time.
But most people try to push through it faster. They force themselves to feel more, do more, and activate more. And that actually keeps you stuck.
Dr. Arielle Schwartz returns to explore the three key phases of overcoming freeze. We discuss why your relationship with your body matters more than any technique and how slowing down is actually what speeds healing.
The Three Phases of Thawing Freeze
Overcoming freeze isn't a single step or one breakthrough moment. It's a progression through three distinct phases, and each phase needs its own time and approach.
Phase 1 is recognition and safety where you have to first recognize you're frozen. This phase requires building enough safety to even acknowledge what's happening without more overwhelm.
Phase 2 is titrated activation where you begin to bring small amounts of energy back online with tiny movements, brief connections, and moments of aliveness. This isn't about forcing yourself into full activation but about gentle, gradual thawing at a pace your system can handle.
Phase 3 is integration and expansion where your nervous system learns it can move between states including rest and activation, connection and autonomy, and vulnerability and protection. You're not pushing through freeze anymore but moving with your body's natural rhythm.
Most people try to jump from Phase 1 to Phase 3. They recognize the freeze and immediately try to force expansion. That reactivates the overwhelm that created freeze in the first place.
Time Isn't Your Enemy
Our culture tells you healing should be fast. That if you're not progressing quickly, something's wrong. That time spent resting is time wasted.
Your body can't be rushed out of freeze. Time isn't the enemy here but the requirement.
Think about it biologically. Freeze is your nervous system's ultimate protective response. It activated because everything else failed. Your system determined that complete shutdown was safer than staying activated.
Expecting that to reverse quickly ignores how deeply protective that response is. Your body won't release freeze until it has evidence including sustained, repeated, and reliable evidence that it's safe to do so.
Giving yourself time is the intervention because healing happens at the speed your nervous system can integrate it, not the speed you want it to happen.
Performance Versus Listening
Here's where most people get stuck. Most people have a performance relationship with their body.
They demand it function, show up, produce, and perform. The body is something to control, manage, and override when it's not cooperating.
This relationship doesn't work for healing freeze. In fact, it reinforces the pattern that created freeze in the first place—the demand to function beyond your capacity.
Healing requires shifting to a listening relationship where you notice what your body is communicating, respect the signals it sends, honor its need for rest without judgment, trust its timing for activation, and allow it to lead the pace of healing.
This feels vulnerable and scary, like giving up control. But control is what keeps you frozen. Listening is what allows thaw.
This Episode Is For:
✓ People trying to push through their freeze response faster
✓ Anyone who struggles to give themselves permission to slow down
✓ Those feeling guilty about needing rest
✓ Practitioners helping clients who are afraid rest means they're failing
✓ High-achievers stuck in freeze who can't stop performing
✓ Anyone whose healing has stalled because they won't honor their body's timing
✓ People ready to shift from controlling to listening
What You'll Learn
Listen to understand why time is essential for healing freeze. Discover how shifting to a listening relationship with your body changes everything. Learn why rushing keeps you stuck and why your body's natural rhythm is trustworthy.
Your freeze won't release until your nervous system believes it's safe. Give it the time it needs.
Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared reflects my clinical expertise and research, but every person's biology and healing journey is unique. Always consult with qualified healthcare providers before making changes to your treatment plan or starting new interventions. If you're experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact emergency services or a crisis helpline immediately.
Join the Conversation
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. What resonated with you? What questions came up?
Please keep comments respectful and supportive. This is a community of people committed to healing. We welcome diverse perspectives and honest questions, but we don't tolerate personal attacks, spam, or content that could harm others on their healing journey.
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