Getting to Know Freeze: How This Self-Protective State Shows Up in Dating, at Work, and More

Many of us know what it feels like to be stuck, wanting to move forward in life but somehow unable to. This is often an indication we’re in freeze—one of the most misunderstood forms of nervous system dysregulation. In this episode of You Make Sense, Sarah breaks down the freeze response: what it is, why it happens, and how it shows up in everything from our relationships to our purpose. Freeze is not laziness or weakness, but a deeply adaptive survival response. Drawing on neuroscience and compassionate insight, Sarah offers powerful somatic tools to gently help you come out of dysregulation and into safety. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a loop of overthinking, avoidance, or self-doubt—this episode will give you a roadmap for stepping toward the life you desire. Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro 00:24 Freeze & The Autonomic Nervous System 03:25 Chronic Dysregulation Takes A Lot of Energy 06:21 Characteristics of Freeze 12:50 How We Experience Freeze In Our Relationships 17:32 Tools to Heal Your Relationships 22:44 How Younger Parts Show Up in Relationships 25:08 How We Experience Freeze in Our Purpose 31:01 Coming Closer to Regulation 36:30 Question 1 - “Why Can’t I Step Toward Dating?” 41:26 Question 2 - “How Do I Get Out of a Deep State of Freeze?” 47:06 Question 3 - “Why Am I Dysregulated So Often?” Join the Waitlist for Navigating Your Nervous System: Living a full, expansive life starts with nervous system regulation. If you’re looking for practical tools and support on your healing journey, you can now get on the waitlist for my upcoming 6-week LIVE program. Everyone on the waitlist will receive access to limited-time pricing: https://bit.ly/sp-nyns-waitlist Connect with Sarah on: Email Community - https://bit.ly/yms-sp-newsletter Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sarahbcoaching/ Website - https://www.sarahbaldwincoaching.com/ Submit a Question: https://sarahbaldwin1.typeform.com/podcast