functional freeze, n.Trivia

Therapist ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠Simone Saunders (@thecognitivecorner) sent the idea viral with a TikTok posted August 14, 2024, showing late-night phone scrolling and brain fog.

Functional ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠freeze is not a clinical diagnosis, though therapists say the stress response it describes is real.

One ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠suggested way out sounds oddly specific: listening to unfamiliar music, alongside breaking chores into tiny steps like clearing dishes off the table.