What is ‘Functional Freeze’?

When You’re Surviving Not Living!

hridayankur sharma (mridconsults@gmail.com)

In today’s modern era, where information overload and mental stress are contributing to a stressful situation, experts are also highlighting ways to overcome it.

As the festive and holiday months pass, the initial weeks of the new year often feel overwhelming. Seasonal illnesses, sudden work demands, and the need to reschedule various activities can be very stressful. The resulting feeling of depleted energy and concentration is called ‘functional freeze’. In simpler terms, it can be understood as feeling like you’re “just going through the motions” despite being fully capable.

Some psychological signs to understand this state of inactivity are:

‘Agitated and Exhausted’

The mental state of feeling agitated yet exhausted is also considered by experts to be equivalent to functional freeze.

‘Restlessness and Anxious Fatigue’ – A combination of restlessness and anxiety. Experts claim that the “freeze mode” is like “feeling lost, detached,” or “being alone,” even though you are capable of completing tasks when needed. Others report feeling dissatisfied despite participating in social activities and feeling “emotionally numb.”

In these ways, the term ‘functional freeze’ can refer to several different symptoms. According to experts, using phrases like “functional freeze” provides a dignified opportunity to express one’s anxieties and feelings. Simply saying “I’ve lost my motivation” is unlikely to be as effective.

Survival Instinct

In some social media posts, people were seen constantly scrolling on their phones. One woman sat wrapped in a towel for 15 minutes after showering, while another lay in bed under the covers.

It’s worth noting that the word “freeze” reflects an innate survival instinct, but this recurring inertia isn’t a momentary reaction to danger. Rather, it’s the result of constantly having to keep oneself together to perform all the necessary tasks.

The tasks that absolutely must be done get done. The most important text messages get answered. Work assignments are completed. But you can barely motivate yourself to do anything beyond the essentials.

George A. Bonanno, a professor of clinical psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University, said these feelings can arise from being overwhelmed by the demands of everyday life.

This can also be due to the excessive flow of information in today’s social media world.

Solutions

First, according to experts, it’s important to consider why this term is particularly relevant to you.

Is it due to excessive stress? Is it primarily due to your job? Or is it because of current world events/situations?

Here, we need to focus on the main concerns and then address them one by one. For example, if we are tired: are we getting enough sleep? If not, we need to think about how we can get sufficient sleep.

For general feelings of stress, stimulating the autonomic nervous system and related efforts is a helpful suggestion.

This helps regulate heart rate, digestion, breathing, and blood pressure. It’s about connecting with your body and feeling calm. Activities such as meditation, yoga, or running are also considered beneficial.

Astrological Solution:

According to counsellor Hriday Ankur Sharma from Mrid Consults, this period under discussion falls under a dry, icy, and cold, inactive season. This is when nature is at its lowest and most constricted level of creation, where life energy is completely dormant and at its peak of inactivity. This directly affects our mental state. According to the Hindu calendar, this period, which falls under the native months of ‘Poh and Magh’, represents the time before the arrival of spring and the beginning of the Hindu New Year. According to ancient texts, the new year is considered to begin on April 13th with the arrival of spring, when nature displays its vibrant colors and life begins to flourish everywhere. Nature and every living being seem to experience a new life consciousness, shedding inertia and stagnation, and experiencing vitality and joy.

The placement of the Saturn planet in a person’s horoscope also indicates a state of ‘functional stagnation’, which can be completely overcome through counseling (paid) for that individual. 

Feel free to book an astrological appointment either by website or instagram. 

Hriday Ankur Sharma (+91-9878634515)

(www.mridconsults.com)