Similar reflexive state shifts are observed in clinical conditions, including aversion to public speaking. If people with this aversion stand up in front of people, they are fearful that they are going to pass out!

There is a problem when we use the immobilization circuit for defense, since our nervous system doesn’t have an efficient pathway to get out of it.

If we use diagnostic categories, we end up describing comorbidities and using other terms that are not helpful in understanding the underlying functions and processes.

the person, due to physiological state change, might be expressing autistic-like behaviors. Rather, they assume motivation for the insensitive behavior of the person walking away.

the singer Johnny Mathis?

Let’s just say that I had a shutdown experience; I was restrained, I was abused when I was young, and my adaptive behavior is to keep moving because, as long as I keep moving, I can’t shut down. But if I keep moving, I can’t relate—I can’t enjoy, I can’t create relationships—and I really want a relationship.

When we respect our body’s responses, we move from this more evaluative state, we become more respectful of ourselves, and this functionally contributes to the healing process.

When clinicians told their clients this simple message, I started to receive emails about how their clients improved spontaneously.

ramp up