Not Burnout? It Might Be Functional Freeze

A lot of people identify themselves as burnt out. 

They’re tried, stressed out and unmotivated in their work and everyday life. For some, pushing themselves too hard and for too long has resulted in burnout. For others, while they may have some of the symptoms, they’re actually experiencing something else altogether.

So what else could it be? 

While it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that burnout is the cause of our problems, it’s important to understand that our stress response comprises various stages. It all starts with chronic stress, which leads to more severe conditions that have damaging effects on the nervous system. 

But between these stages exists something called functional freeze.

Functional freeze is a maladaptive stress response where you can still complete your tasks yet feel stuck in a kind of “freeze mode.” You have a sense of consistent heightened anxiety without the desire or energy to do anything. You might feel like you’re in limbo, functioning but not thriving.

So what are the signs of functional freeze, and how do we get ourselves unstuck if we’ve found ourselves in its trap? 

In this episode, I’ll break down the symptoms and causes of this stress response, and take you through strategies you can experiment with to overcome it. 

Website: vesnahrsto.com

Double Your Energy Masterclass: https://peak-revival.captivate.fm/yt-masterclass

Mentioned in this episode:

Buh-Bye Burnout