The Trauma Response Series: The Freeze Response

The Trauma Response Workshop Series: Class Three: The Freeze Response

Trauma responses are involuntary physical, emotional, and cognitive reactions to intense, stressful, or life-threatening events, rooted in survival instincts. These mechanisms help traumatized people manage danger when they are subject to it but can become long-term, ingrained behaviors even when the individual has achieved safety.

People with Complex PTSD often experience automatic, intense, and, at times, inappropriate fight, flight, freeze, fawn, flop/fatigue, fine and flood/faint responses when triggered, as their nervous system perceives danger where none exists. In this 7 part series we will be exploring these trauma responses in depth and what we can do as trauma survivors when these activate and/or present themselves in daily life.

The third trauma response we will discuss is the FREEZE response. The trauma reaction presents as physical or psychological immobility, shutdown, and emotional numbness. Individuals experiencing the freeze response feel like a "deer in headlights" effect and may experience rigid muscles, lowered heart rate, held breath, and feelings of, being detached, dissociated, or, mentally not there. In this course we will discuss:
- what the freeze response entails physically and psychologically
- what makes one more prone to the freeze response when triggered
- behavioral signs of the freeze response
- when the freeze response becomes maladaptive
- how to curb the freeze response when triggered
- common misconceptions about the freeze response

This course will come with a companion Power Point that will be distributed post class.

YOUR ORGANIZER: Kerrin began her legal career as a public defender and represented patients who were facing involuntary detention or commitment in a mental health facility. Throughout her 20 years as an attorney since she has worked with social workers, and mental health professionals to guide criminal defendants toward treatment and community supervision as an alternative to incarceration. She is also the daughter of a narcissistic mother and believes many of the mental health issues she's struggled with on her own were brought about by long term emotional abuse. After being diagnosed with C-PTSD in 2021. she has worked with several therapists in creating The C-PTSD Workshop : a 6 part Series which uses the teachings and recommendations of Dr. Judith Herman in her book Trauma and Recovery to guide participants through understanding and treating Complex Trauma.

COST: $15.00 per session, non refundable. Open to non established members.
Workshop pass members simply comment PASS below for entry.
If you're interested in buying the 2026 Workshop pass for unlimited entry to all led workshops in 2026, follow this link to obtain the pass:
https://www.meetup.com/pittsburgh-narcissism-survivor-meetup-group/events/313252647/?eventOrigin=group_calendar