Ever have one of those days where just getting through feels impossible?
Your energy is drained, your mind is checked out, and the exhaustion feels like it’s sunk all the way into your bones. And it’s not like you spent the day doing anything intense—yet here you are, completely worn out.
As if that’s not enough, in comes the nagging voice, telling you you’re just being lazy or undisciplined.
Here’s what I want you to know: that voice couldn’t be further from the truth.
The Deep Fatigue You Feel Isn’t Laziness—It’s Your Nervous System at Work
We’re talking about the “freeze” response—the nervous system’s way of stepping in when life has been hitting you hard and nonstop.
This freeze state is designed to conserve energy and resources when the “ish” has been going on for a long time.
It’s your body’s way of saying, “Hold up, I need a break.”
Freeze kicks in when stressors keep coming at you huge, hard, and fast, or when you’ve been handling a constant stream of demands, fighting just to keep up.
At some point, your brain starts to believe you don’t have the resources to manage what’s coming, so it steps in to protect you by slowing things down—even if it doesn’t feel helpful in the moment.
The deep fatigue you’re feeling isn’t laziness; it’s actually your nervous system’s way of trying to look out for you, slowing things down when there’s so much on your plate.
Now, let’s talk about how to navigate, and maybe thaw, a freeze.
The 5 Fs of Stress: Understanding Your Body’s Reactions
The 5 Fs of the stress response are flight, fight, freeze, flop, and friend. We’ve already discussed how movement can help complete the stress cycle when our bodies are in fight or flight. But today, let’s focus on how to manage stress when we find ourselves slipping into freeze.
In freeze, your body is doing its best to protect you from what it perceives as too much.
Understanding this can be the first step toward releasing some of the self-judgment that comes with feeling “stuck” and instead approaching your stress response with more understanding and compassion.
It’s not uncommon to feel frustrated, even disappointed, when you think you’re not meeting life’s demands, especially in a culture that prizes busy-ness and overextension. But that frustration can be misplaced.
While most of us are fortunate not to face true survival threats, freeze can still kick in when life feels relentless.
It’s the state where we tense up, get quiet, still, and feel like we can’t take another step forward. Although we may not have hungry predators lurking around the corner, constantly burning the candle at both ends, with little room to breathe—especially if life feels out of alignment with our values—can easily lead us down the path of the stress response cycle.
Why Pushing Through Freeze Can Make Things Worse
When we find ourselves in the energy-conserving state of freeze, we need to approach ourselves differently than we would in fight or flight.
The fight/flight response is highly active—our bodies are mobilized and ready to engage. But with freeze, we have to ease our way back toward a sense of movement and activation in small, intentional steps.
Pushing too hard too fast can further strain an already overwhelmed nervous system.
When your system is already depleted, the best thing you can do is honor where you are instead of forcing yourself into a state your body doesn’t have the resources to sustain. Pushing through exhaustion or trying to “snap out of it” can backfire, further draining your nervous system and deepening the freeze response.
Instead, gentle, supportive steps—like mindful movement, deep breathing, or simply allowing yourself to rest without guilt—can help you gradually regain a sense of energy and resilience.
As your nervous system completes its stress cycles and you build resilience, you’ll start to notice a natural increase in energy over time. Along with that, you may find yourself feeling a stronger desire to engage and participate in more dynamic physical activities—almost like a hunger for movement! This shift isn’t about forcing yourself into action but allowing your body to guide you as it regains the capacity to move, play, and engage with life in a way that feels good.
It will start to feel natural and sustainable—because it is.
This concept is especially important for anyone navigating chronic illness, injury, or mental health challenges. We know movement is essential for the human body, but we also know that context matters.
Pushing through isn’t always the answer.
Compassion Over Force: A Sustainable Approach to Healing
Meeting yourself where you are, without judgment, is a vital part of restoring health and building true, lasting wellness.
So, if you’re in a season where energy feels scarce, honor that. Start small, move gently, and trust that with time, your body will guide you forward.
You don’t have to force it—just take the next right step.
If you’re struggling with nervous system regulation and often find yourself stuck in freeze, you’re not alone—I’m here to help. Together, we can create a plan to help you better understand your body, your mind, and how they work together to keep you safe.
I offer Restorative Movement Therapy using my 25 years of expertise as a licensed massage therapist, health counselor, and movement professional.
My techniques and modalities are customized to meet individual client needs for improved physical wellbeing and performance.
