

Functional Freeze vs. Anhedonia vs. Burnout
by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghMay 8, 2025 anhedonia, burn out, burnout, depression, freeze, freeze response, functional freeze0 comments
Functional Freeze vs. Anhedonia vs. Burnout
Life’s challenges often take a toll on our mental health, leading to emotional and physical exhaustion. However, not all forms of mental and emotional struggle are the same. Functional freeze, anhedonia, and burnout are three distinct states of distress, each with unique characteristics, causes, and effects....Learn More
Understanding the Freeze Response and Dorsal Vagal Shutdown
by Counseling and Wellness Center of PittsburghNovember 22, 2024 collapse, deb dana, disassociate, disassociation, dorsal vagal shutdown, freeze, freeze response, functional freeze, nervous system, nervous system regulation, peter levine, polyvagal ladder, polyvagal theory, shutdown, somatic therapy, Stephen Porges, stress responses, sympathetic nervous system, trauma responses0 comments
Understanding the Freeze Response and Dorsal Vagal Shutdown
Have you ever felt frozen in the face of stress—unable to act or make a decision? This experience, often described as “freezing,” is a common yet misunderstood survival response. While many people refer to all forms of immobility as “freeze,” there are important distinctions within...Learn More