UNFREEZING the Freeze Response || FACEBOOK LIVE Q&A EPISODE || with Irene Lyon

This is another one of my Facebook Live Q&A's that I do regularly in my Healthy Nervous System Revolution Facebook Group. If you'd like to join, head over: / nervoussystem
I answer A LOT of great questions in this episode and I've decided to post those questions here so you can see the depth of questions:
IF YOU WANT TO SKIP MY INTRO AND SOME BASICS AROUND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM YOU CAN FAST FORWARD TO 8:48 MINUTE MARK .
► HI Irene, I wonder if you can explain what maintain one in a state of freeze and why Peter Levine recommend the importance to "unfreeze" slowly .. Thank you.
► My question: how can we regulate our nervous system so that we don't get an automatic fight or flight response when thinking of a person that we had a stressful or intense event(either good or bad) with? Or what can we do at that moment when replaying stressful/exciting events with someone in our mind that cause us anxiety? (I get a feeling of my 'stomach dropping' or nervous butterflies whenever I think of or interact with a few people in my life. I've tried so much to try to avoid these stress responses to certain people I need/want to interact with. Instead I have chosen to avoid these people in order to avoid the anxiety but I don't want to live a life of seclusion in order to protect my nervous system. Social anxiety is my biggest anxiety)
► This question might reach back a bit to your past life as a physical/rehab pro and patient, but I would like to know your thoughts on whether it's possible to have basically well-regulated global nervous system but have local freeze in previously injured areas. I have found some trapped movement patterns and vague emotions come up when I manage to activate it a little but they are so non-specific, it is not like some other somatic trauma work I have done. Very interested to hear any thoughts you have in this area. Thanks!!!
► I'm just trying to work out how you unfreeze without triggering massive flashbacks and past traumas?
► Can you talk about who your programs is for and if they would benefit someone with a borderline personality disorder ( attachment and developmental trauma )
► Can you also talk about your programs and if they have helped those living with Epilepsy and your personal thoughts in your years of experiences?
► Hi! Can you please explain the difference from fear, terror and shock, and how they affect one's life and view of the world, if they have memories of fear/terror/shock (from early childhood). What happens when one hasn't felt loved and protected in the womb? What are the consequences of a mother who is not able to self-regulate?
► I would like to hear your thoughts and clinical experiences about the psoas muscle. I have read that it is one of the largest muscles in the body and it is a place where we often store stress and trauma. And the muscle that is most central to our fight/flight response is the psoas. Is that also your experience or is it too simple? How is that? And how is the psoas muscle different from the Vargas nerve when it comes to storing stress/ trauma?
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Thank you for being here!
1. Leave a comment and let me know how this video impacted you. Feel free to leave a question (my team answers them each week!)
2. To get more nervous system health resources, plus learn more about me and my credentials, plus the many ways you can work with me at the practical level, head to my website: irenelyon.com
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4. GOT QUESTIONS? Send an email to: [e-mail]
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Please know that…
The statements on this KZbin channel or in videos are simply opinion. Content presented or posted on this channel is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or a professional therapeutic relationship. Content presented or posted is intended to provide general health information for educational purposes only and you should contact the appropriate healthcare professional before relying on any such information.
My website is a wealth of free resources and information on how to start this work, so here it is one more time: irenelyon.com

[@valzer84]

I greatly appreciate the amount of compassion and lack of judgement or shaming with all of this.

[@Medietos]

One of the things I so much appreciate in Irene Lion is, how she is not self-centered. When she mentions her own issues, it is just mentioning, not to draw attention , not to change focus unto her. Many professionals today have become increasing self-centered, pretending it is being generous and personal, while it really is using us and taking our focus of attention from our own healing onto them. As a compulsive helper and heightened alert interest in and care for others, at the expense of oneself, that is bad. So hooray for her!

[@carrieparkermusic]

I grew up in a loving family that was very southern baptist. As a child I was terrified I would die in my sleep and be judged by god & or go to hell because I was constantly hearing hell fire preaching. 15 years ago I came out to my parents and told them I had always been attracted to the same sex. Long story as short as possible, my mom has said horrific things to me when I came out, 15 years and she still acts the same way. Last year I was in my 1st bad car accident. At the time I lived by myself, bc of the accident I moved in with my partner & her mom. I began having anxiety, tears all day long that I affected my jobs. I began feeling things I never felt, my mom called one night & I went off on her like never before bc I had kept it in for so long. I began researching narcissism & went crazy learning as much as I could. I realized my partner & her mom were covert narcs just as my mom.. it was the hardest year of my life. I’m finally feeling better but still working through letting go of my covert narcs constant guilt trips & stress.... when you used the car accident analogy, I had a flash back of that time and you described everything to the T!!! This is so freeing.

[@teika12]

amazing..I am finally seeing a trained trauma therapist and I am 53 yrs old. I carried so much for so long. I felt like I was dying. In bed for months on end. My head feeling like it weighed 300bls, migraines, major depression anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, body pain, low immunity, adrenal fatigue, thyroid issues, nightmares, night sweats, complex ptsd from 18 years being marinated in trauma after trauma. I know Jesus has healed me spiritual. Somatic therapy is healing me physically. I prayed for a therapist and I found the perfect one for me. Amen! Peace and Grace!

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi teika 12, Jen here from Team Lyon. Great to hear that you found the perfect therapist for you! I wish you much healing. If you want to "fast track" your healing journey, many people find Irene's online healing trauma programs to be a potent complement to 1-1 work with a practitioner. I'll link to info about the program and also about the blog post that I got an intuitive hit to share (maybe it was your mention of Grace!).

[@teika12]

@@teamlyon3109 thank you..can you send the links to [e-mail]

This is all very recognizable for me. I was always in the Flight/Freeze- State and rarely in the Fight -State. And had a lot of headaches/stomach pain as a child and later as a young woman often migraine attacks plus the regular headaches. From when I was little I was called: too sensitive, also as an adult.

[@mushtaqyousufi9913]

Christina Köfer my story also.

[@IreneLyon]

So glad you found it recognizable Christina and Mushtaq Yousufi. Wishing you only the best in your journey. Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@michaelvenus2455]

Me also

[@gabrieltdu5780]

i have been stuck for so long in a froze state that now,when i resist dissociation and manage to stay present my body shakes and i really feel my feelings now....im very sad but also happy that im not hollow anymore

[@IreneLyon]

Gabriel, thank you for sharing. It's so great hearing that you are starting to feel into those feelings and are not feeling hollow anymore! I hope your curiosity in staying present in your body and feeling into those feelings is giving you great insight and movement in your healing. Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator.

[@kaylamcdonald2048]

@gabriel TDU I’m still hollow I’ve been hollow for about 6 months now. It’s like a cycle i can’t believe it took me this long to get to this article YT channel! How did you get out of feeling hollow?

[@stephanieryan7593]

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[@stephanieryan7593]

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[@stephanieryan7593]

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[@sarawilliar]

Your work is so profoundly on point and deeply wise, filled with such love and respect. I can only honor you with my own practice and healing as one being. Thank you beyond words.

[@zanzer386]

Absolutely agreed! So thankful to have found this channel🙏🏻

[@kamleshtaank231]

I can relate with my schooling .. I was very afraid to go school , my parents and school staff was not supportive .. I spent many years in freez .. Even after school this shut down was on and off all my life periodically .. I have had mood swings , anxiety, migraine .. all my life Now After 30 years I am suffering some bad health issue (gut) All connected I can't thank you enough Irene to make it clear for me ♥️🙏

[@teamlyon3109]

Thank you so much for being here kamlesh! This is Seth from Team Lyon. If you want more great info I highly encourage you to check out Irene's free 3-part Healing Trauma video training, happening now. Also, she has two wonderful online programs to help people get started doing the work. I'll put all those links below... Healing Trauma Video Training - irenelyon.com/healing-trauma-youtube/ 21 Day Tuneup - irenelyon.com/tuneup/ SmartBody SmartMind - www.smartbodysmartmind.com/

[@lenahammargren6951]

I am immensely grateful and relieved. Finally found the missing piece. You are incredible, thank you 💞

[@zanzer386]

Same💞🙏🏻finding the missing pieces

[@ggonsg]

Thank YOU so very much, Irene!!!, for helping me better understand my inner/outer world! Also, so happy you and your husband found each other. Because you helped him heal his past trauma, now the both of you can help so many others!

[@pandemicnova]

What you said about shaking to heal trauma and shaking when you came out of anesthetic reminded me of an article in the April 23-29 2022 issue of New Scientist magazine. The article, written by Thomas Lewton, was called A Quantum of Consciousness and it discussed how physicist Roger Penrose and anaesthesiologist Stuart Hameroff proposed a theory about consciousness that related to the way the mind processes anesthesia. This work was later furthered by Jack Tuszynski at the University of Alberta in Canada at the science of consciousness conference in Tuscon Arizona. A quote from the article: "if the brain exists at the threshold between the quantum and classical worlds, even a small suppression could prevent the brain from processing information."

[@Zeljia]

I’ve been in limbo for about 3 solid years(21 now) and it’s all just hitting me like a ton of bricks. I know I’ve been self sabotaging by literally dodging every opportunity that has come my way, and just filling the void with several addictions. This all being a result of my upbringing and my own lack of awareness in addressing my upbringing. Your videos/chats have just perfectly highlighted and clarified what I’ve suspected about myself-I have so much work to do. I don’t know where else to begin but to just start. Thank you for being you and being so amazing. Can’t believe I have access to this for free

[@Bhatura_life]

Your work is pure gold....i am so so grateful to you 💛

[@xristosbaliotisxristosbali5180]

It is a wonderful piece of work combining a great amount of disciplines in an artful feature.Thank you

[@SelfLoveU]

Talk therapy is important in conjunction with Somatic Therapy as well as Cognitive Therapy. Those of us who have been traumatized need it all.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hey SelfLoveU, Seth here from Team Lyon. Thanks for being here! It's very true that our story and our thoughts have to be part of the process - as a somatic trauma specialist I spend a lot of time just listening to my clients, as the basis of any healing is a safe, attuned relationship. It can take many approaches to heal - be it body work, talk therapy, energy work, nutrition, naturopathic medicine, or something else - which is why it's so important for each individual to learn to listen to, and follow, their impulses about what is right for them.

[@thehighpriestess8431]

I have done EMDR and years of CBT. I have done DBT as well... I also belong to the Adult Children of Alcoholics/Dysfunctional families Twelve Steps Group. Which has helped me tremendously. I am yet to try Team Lyon

[@sicilyny5375]

Yes...we learn much from talk therapy.. and cognitive therapy doesn't work well 4 me...writing or journaling therapy is very insightful combined with Mindfulness. I'm learning about somatic help now.

[@delectar]

This is so fascinating. I am listening with great concentration as I want to learn how to unfreeze. I wonder how you help someone increase capacity? That idea is so interesting. I am one of these people who get triggered far too easily after a childhood of relational stress. I easily feel people are ignoring me or don't like me or are putting me down. I recognise it but the body response still takes me over. I love the fact that you stress the slowness of the process. I am an acupuncturist and I have worked with many people about releasing stress in their bodies and what you are saying makes such sense to me. Thank you! I wish there was someone I could work with or even learn from in the UK.

[@IreneLyon]

So great that it's making so much sense to you! There are a number of ways to inrease capacity. You may get a better understanding by checking out the Healing Trauma Series. It's packed full of a ton of insightful information :) irenelyon.com/healing-trauma There are a ton more resources on the website that you may find helpful! irenelyon.com Excited for you and hope that diving deeper into this work gives you insight on how to work with getting triggered far too easily :) Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@helenwarren5217]

I've been stuck in survival mode so long but i realize today there is so much that has been pushed down thati I'm afraid to look at.it.Getting sober i ran into panic attacks, Fear has been my constant companion. that shut me down.I leared thru CPSTD that my trauma and inability to connect with others is Fear based.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hey Helen, Seth here with Team Lyon. Fear of feeling what is inside us is completely natural when we've been traumatized and living in survival mode. Scary things happened, and those feelings are still in us, and it makes sense that we would fear feeling them again, and so it is also very normal to turn to various substances and behaviours to help manage all that. When we start working with our trauma it's very important to be educated about our system and what is going on, as this helps us understand what the feelings are at a physiological level, which helps normalize them and make it feel safer. Titration is also very important - just doing a little bit at a time, as is a knowledge of our resources - knowing what we can go to in order to soothe and settle ourselves if we feel overwhelmed. All of this is what Irene teaches in her online courses, so you may want to check those out, and please just keep watching and learning. One thing that might be helpful is her free 3-part training Healing Trauma. That's a deep dive into the education piece that may be a good place to start... irenelyon.com/healing-trauma

[@redber16]

I’ve never had issues with fearful situations or taking on a big project. Sure it wears on you, but I’m very sensitive and I’ve learned that since I started going through an awakening 3 years ago, in the beginning it’s all fun and games, but then things start to shift. The sensitivity goes up and the energy around becomes more effecting. My environment is Key The world is crazy and can stay that way, but as long as you have a cozy home environment to go back to it’ll do wonders

[@IreneLyon]

Totally agree Jared. Having a cozy home/safe environment to go back to can be so helpful in us shifting from that on alert, fight/flight, need to survive place to I'm safe and can rest, recover, recharge etc. Thanks for sharing! Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@iseeyouurloved1703]

I would love to hear more about this: 1:19:37 Pilates is one of the worst things that you can do when you have had a lot of early trauma, or a lot of shock trauma, because it is constantly training the psoas muscle

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi I See You U R Loved, what would you like to know specifically? Jen here from Team Lyon. The general idea, as you may have gleaned from Irene's video, is that the psoas muscle is the primary muscle involved in the fight, flight response. If we have trauma and are stuck in a survival state, this muscle can be chronically tight. If this is the case, movements that ask the psoas to tighten, such as those that are often taught in pilates, can reinforce this chronic tension pattern and the related feedback messages/loop telling the system to stay in survival mode.

[@3shapes]

@@teamlyon3109Fascinating. Are there any movements which stretch out the psoas/have the opposite effect to tightening it? Thanks.

[@iseeyouurloved1703]

Team Lyon Thank you so so much. I am new to Irene and literally telling everyone.

[@teamlyon3109]

@@3shapes, it's not usually advisable to stretch the psoas. Rather the intent is to create the conditions of safety and support that enable it to soften and release. Generally speaking, bending the knees in reclined positions can support release in the psoas (such as putting a bolster or pillow under your knees in Savasana). This is different however than doing the work to grow nervous system capacity and regulation - one is more of a management strategy and the other provides deeper and more sustainable changes (this is what Irene teaches in The 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up and SmartBody SmartMind).

[@shirleysarradet4603]

So glad to have this validated. I have been exactly like I am for All My Life. My Mother knew it very early in my Infancy.

[@IreneLyon]

Shirley, I'm so glad that you found this validating. I hope it's given you a bit of insight and curiosity in your healing. Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@esperanzamunoz6719]

I'm curious. What exactly did your mother notice about you as a baby? Did she help or harm you?

[@christopherrobin147]

Irene….you are brilliant. Thank you thank you thank you for sharing your great work 💙

[@dawnwilliams9524]

I’m listening to your videos and I feel the jigsaw pieces are coming together. Im a yoga teacher for people with Parkinson’s and children with Autism, as well as a person suffering from deep trauma. Yoga is great and has been instrumental in helping me through much of this trauma but your work is more specific it seems and addresses many issues relating to the dysregulation of the Nervous System and how it affects our lives. It makes sense. I can see how this work would support Yoga Therapy.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Dawn, Jen here from Irene's Team. I work in Irene's programs and am also a yoga teacher and nervous system specialist. Your work sounds really interesting! What you shared aligns with my experience - when I would teach yoga without the nervous system piece, people would often experience many positive benefits but it didn't grow foundational and sustainable nervous system regulation in the way that this work does. I find them to be very complementary.

[@TheBakingGirlShow]

that's what happends in EMDR when we feel things too quick and it feels super intense

[@esperanzamunoz6719]

I read about how much that process helps. But I would like to understand what or how it helps.

[@_suse_]

I'm so grateful to have found you, Irene xoxo

[@aleksandrastankovic7690]

I am not really sure where I am at the moment. I am suffering from anxiety and episodes of depersonalization but three months ago I started feeling the pain from the past and actually crying every day for an hour or two, releasing anger, sadness and what not. After three months today, I feel really high anxiety, but I did not have an epizode of depersonalization, just really high anxiety and strong sensations in my body. I wonder where I am now, is it probably the fight and flight mode I am actually in now? I wonder what shall I do next

[@IreneLyon]

Hi Aleksandra, By the sounds of it something is changing in your system and you are finding new ways "to be". Continue to be curious, bit by bit. How are things going now - 1 month later? I'm wondering, have you checked out any of Irene's programs for some tips on how to find support and education through your journey? Here are a few free and paid programs that might be worth checking out. irenelyon.com/7-steps-opt-in-IL irenelyon.com/adrenal-fatigue-webinar-opt-in This group on Facebook also has some incredible resources! facebook.com/groups/nervoussystem/ Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@franciscoguevara9727]

enjoy listening to this, since i am a survivor of narcisistic abuse in childhood teenage years and later had issues with those type of people as an adult, since perhaps i wasnt as aware of some of the redflags and still had some stuff to heal inmyself im not sure how much it resonates with me that a narc (eventhough i know it comes from trauma) that all they need to do is regulate. Ive heard of them needing psycotherapy, as well. Ive been going to support groups for survivors and theres often a lot of dynamics going on when there are people that have trauma yet have just cptsd, and other type of people who actually developed a personality disorder. Its often a problem, that is starting to come to the surface, and it can be a major unsafety because of how abusive unfortunately narcisists and psycopaths can be... ..

[@rebeccaaldrich3396]

Thank you for your great work. It's very helpful. Blessings

[@fuerstin77]

In one of her videos Irene mentions that in trauma therapy it is important to not change the breath but just to notice it. Why is that? There is so much talk about the breath and relaxing the nervous system.

[@jesseclarke9077]

I need to do this work. I stuggle so badly to calm my nervous system and allow my mind to just be and think comfortably. I need to rewire my mind.

[@vanessapegorari5236]

Wow! You are so generous to share so much work online for free. I have learned a lot over the last couple of years following some of your videos and being more aware personally and professionally. Do you offer a certified course that I could adopt and get insured for while working with physical practices which I offer already such as Myofascial release, Body Listening, Yoga, Massage, Dance and other resources that I already combine and teach with, please? Huge thanks to this amazing work you are doing sharing your knowledge this way. Best wishes to you, Vx

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Vanessa, Jen here from Team Lyon. Great to hear you've learned so much from Irene! She doesn't currently offer a course specifically for professional training, and she is considering so. If you want to receive updates as they become available, you can email [e-mail] and let them know you want to be added to the list. She does know that her comprehensive course, SmartBody SmartMind, will be a prerequisite for the professional training if/when she does offer one. While SBSM is not a professional training, many practitioners participate in this comprehensive course for both personal healing and to inform their work as professionals. SmartBody SmartMind - smartbodysmartmind.com

[@pattishen7386]

One of the best videos Irene ❤️🥰👌👍so much here to learn.

[@alkhashaba5197]

Is my depersonalization derealization is a freeze response ? I will watch your whole video, really appreciate your work .

[@katiegreenwood8738]

Thank you this has been really useful. I’d never heard of the psoas muscle before this episode, but when I’ve done some research I’ve realised this is what is tight in my body, not generally but I’ve noticed this is the area that, in comparison to the flexibility I have in the rest of my body is extremely inflexible while doing yoga. My seated forward bends have hardly any forward movement . I feel a tightness at the back of my thighs when sat in any seated position where my legs are in front, with not much stretch. I’ve had intuition to work on my grounding and roots and this muscle grounds us to the earth! ‘A tightened psoas signals the body that you are in danger depleting the immune system. Cultivating a healthy psoas we rekindle our body’s vital energies’, my natural energy has been suppressed in my system. So interesting. So with all that being said, I’m interested that you say Pilates is not good if you have trauma in that area. If I have trauma in that area due to being in a highly stressed state as a child, will stretching the muscle in yoga be beneficial or is it constricted as an emotional safety mechanism and that will release something emotionally? (You didn’t specify why Pilates was bad and it’s similar as a practice to yoga in that it works on that muscle in certain poses, as I’ve noticed, any insight specifically would be helpful) I have the auto immune disease type 1 diabetes due to this stress so any help in healing traumas I’m ready for at this point in my life. Diagnosed at 16 now 41.

[@IreneLyon]

Katie Greenwood, Jen here from team Lyon. Gentle movement and stretches may be beneficial if they work for your body, and what tends to happen is that the changes people may experience as they explore these practices don't last if there is underlying trauma. Doing the work to learn about the nervous system and take steps to grow nervous system regulation and capacity is what shifts the longer-term, more deeply held tension patterns in the body. This may include emotional release, and it may also include sensations, moments, and more. I'll link to a few of Irene's resources that you might check out. In the first two you'll find more information related to healing trauma by working through the nervous system. The third link is a link to The 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up, a self-study course that Irene created to teach people basic nervous system education and practices so that they can start to work with their own nervous system. free 3-part Healing Trauma video training - irenelyon.com/healing-trauma Field Guide to the Nervous System - irenelyon.com/field-guide-to-your-nervous-system 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up - 21daytuneup.com/

[@susanshearer6106]

I just found you two days ago and what you discuss greatly resonates with me. I am desperate to get well and hope there is help for me. My question is this: Can you heal if you do not have a safe person to help you? My family has all passed away and the friends that I have are more like acquaintances. Therefore, I don't have anyone that I can physically feel safe with and work through traumas in the manner which you described. ANY help is appreciated. I am tired of living this way and will do anything (as long as it is legal) to get my brain unstuck from frozen danger mode.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Susan Shearer, Jen here with Team Lyon. There is definitely help and reason to hope. Irene offers two online trauma healing programs, both of which have facebook groups connected to them where you can connect with peers and nervous system specialists around program-related questions. And as people work through the content, many find that their ability to make and sustain healthy social connections increases. Working 1-1 with a professional who has nervous system expertise can also be supportive if that's an option, and it can be very complementary to participating in Irene's programs. I'll link to Irene's starter program here, The 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up, in case you want to check it out. I'll link to one of her videos about social engagement that might be of interest to you too. The 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up: 21daytuneup.com Four ways to spark up our social engagement nervous system without socializing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHXMmItsqrVrb9E

[@susanshearer6106]

@@teamlyon3109 Thank you so much for your prompt response. Impressive! Two quick questions. If I read the response correctly, you are suggesting the 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up as a place to start? Second, I understand and am willing to work with a professional one on one but how do you locate such a person? I live in Nebraska USA and wonder what the buzzwords are to include in my Google search to locate the appropriate professional.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi @@susanshearer6106 , Seth here from Team Lyon. Yes, the 21 Day Tuneup is the best way to start, because it gives you all the in-depth education (something many practitioners don't bother with) and the basic practices and tools you need to start doing the work and be well prepared for in-person sessions. In terms of how to find a good practitioner, Irene made a video on just that .... kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZmW7d2p3g9Okfc0

[@apothecareyarts4076]

wow question #2 - great question and thank you to whomever asked it.

[@patriciagriffin1505]

Thank you so informative and enlightening

[@1491rachel]

Thank you for posting very helpful!?

[@catthyna]

I just realised that my freeze respond camed when my mom when I was about 3 years old, out of no where, started to beat me with a belt because I spit in someones head. It also triggered my unhealty guilt and started to second guess myself on ever step. My mom reinforced that trauma by treathening me with the belt every chance she could especially when she would go to parents meeting at school. WRiting this I also remeber her slapping me, don't recall what she said, but it was also after one of those meetings. How the heck did I survived 30 years of constant fear?! No wonder my pulse is accelerated all the time and my back tingles and my chest area aches like knifes going trough. I'm afraid I'm gonna die soon.

[@esperanzamunoz6719]

Your post is so touching. You have suffered too long! Do you still have a relationship with your toxic mother? Years ago I read about cutting toxic people out of our lives. If you can't do that because you've been in a rut. But you do need to make steps to learn how to have limits of how to not accept the trauma that gets triggered by her. Good luck. When I decided I'd had enough unkind behavior from my daughters. It's been four years since I had anything to do with them. Instead of feeling anxiety I feel nothing. Empty. I just realized that I have been protecting myself. I hate confrontation so I freeze my hurt and pain.

[@lpn4375]

Yes this is true the panic is like froze. But more like terrifying when I'm confined is anyone happening this?

[@esperanzamunoz6719]

I'm feeling triggered really strongly. I've watched many videos on KZbin about psychological issues and never felt scared. My heart thumping my breathing shallow. I'm going to have to change channels. Sorry. If you can please address this issue I'm feeling.

[@formatorlol7452]

Hi ,When you talked abt the vagus nerve I think for those who have dis regulated vagus nerve,the therapist does the work of correlation with the client when he or she is stressed. I HOPE AM RIGHT..

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Formator LOL, Jen here from Team Lyon. What you deserve can be part of growing access to the vagus nerve, and sometimes more specific support is needed. If you haven't yet seen Irene's free Healing Trauma video training, you might give it a watch as she talks about related topics in the series. free Healing Trauma Video Series - irenelyon.com/healing-trauma

[@GavinMumby]

Can I ask a question. If I have battered system, was on drugs and alcohol for years, full of hate and anger from CPTSD and then lots of life trauma because of the fight flight alcoholism, can’t stop drinking after two years of then battering the nervous system with energy work not knowing about the nervous system, plus massively co dependant, and so tired I can’t even stay still or concentrate and exploding and doctors and crisis team and mental health teams saying saying sorry we can’t help and a thick self hate and desperation and delusions because of this with no one listening. I have two children but have lost so much hope and strength desperate to get well but not being able to. Even CA AA sponsors saying push through it and treating me like the narcisstic. I do not know what to do. I can’t find the strength or concentration to deal with it. I don’t want to die but don’t know what to do anymore alone with no money now and not coping even when I see the children and the shame, I don’t know what to do anymore. Even psychotherapy and rtt etc hasn’t been working. Toxic shame. It’s like I need to go somewhere but I cannot afford anything and doors are always shut. Gav UK. I don’t have a saviour like yourself, have responsibility and cannot do much. Jesus. There’s a place in Switzerland that deals with this stuff but it’s extortionate and no one in the uk does. I can’t get help. Crisis teams can’t help. Or psychiatrists. Just sending me away. I am broken in the Uk and need to go somewhere because of the deep co dependancy to deal with this but trying to survive and not die. If anyone sees or hears this with a resolution when I can’t seem to even get well or read, it would mean so much to me

[@martinajammernegg3093]

Hi there, toward the end of this as highly interesting as all of your Q&As, you're speaking about babies wanting/needing to "get out of the womb". Now, I'm wondering what is your take on the Pre-eclampsia (PE). I've had 2 cases in my family (my sister and my sister-in-law) where the babies had to be taken out prematurely. My sister's son, for example, was hardly 7 months old when the situation became dangerous for both of them. Thank you for your fantastic work! So interesting, so helpful, so good!

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Martina, Seth here from Team Lyon. With some thing like PE its hard to say for sure as there are likely many factors - the health of the mother, their diet, their level of alignment with the pregnancy, their relationship, the amount of support - all of these would play in I think, and of course, unresolved trauma and nervous system dysregulation could absolutely be a factor as well.

[@martinajammernegg3093]

@@teamlyon3109 Sure, I take your point. It's just that my little sister is really the most untraumatized and less (if at all) dysregulated person I know, that's why I was wondering. Thanks anyways.

[@Oouri.0.2.0]

thank you~

[@ashleyandrews1277]

Where can I get a list of good practitioners

[@YourNay]

Thanks Irene, great video! Question for you.. after 3.5 months of developing very physical and debilitating anxiety/panic disorder where my body was stuck in fight, flights for months, I believe my nervous system as a safety mechanism is now stuck in the freeze mode. I can’t feel my emotions. I feel the fight or flight still there but my body is not allowing me to feel anything. Even Excitement doesn’t feel good- actually feels just like anxiety. You mentioned that the fight, flight is right underneath the freeze. Does that mean I would have to feel that debilitating feeling of fight, flight again while recovering? Or is it possible to rewire your thoughts and perception and recover without it? I hope my question made sense :))

[@baruhanzlova]

I am there also almost 2 years. Still stuck in F/F but emotions on level of freeze,when I am trying feel them. How you are doing now ?

[@YourNay]

@@baruhanzlova I’m still fighting.. still very numb. I feel myself in the middle of a panic attack but can’t feel the adrenaline or severe symptoms I would like before even tho I know I’m very afraid, if tht makes any sense. I’m in an amazing anxiety relief group on FB and people there have recovered from severe anxiety so I know it’s possible! It’s literally starts and ends with your mind! I’m retraining my mind and thinking everyday and it’s starting to help. Plus my faith is God and knowing I’m not alone is extremely helpful and peaceful at times. Good luck to you.. this is beatable and we all have the power within ourselves to overcome ❤️

[@lindadiane8705]

Good information. I was getting impatient with the pace. I guess you set your tempo for the target audience.

[@IreneLyon]

Thanks for your comment and for watching Linda. We are actually working on pulling these longer videos apart and making them shorter clips :) Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@happysunday1345]

I don’t mean to dismiss you, but if you don’t have the feeling to shake when your present and still than I don’t think you’ve been through chronic trauma (not saying you claim too) Quote from you “not everyone who has been through trauma has to shake to release it” yeah maybe people who experience mild trauma. Being in literally a life or death situation for years, I can’t imagine healing any other way. It’s literally nonstop when present. I speak from experience

[@Medietos]

What do have to do with authority officials harming me since years, decades, blaming and harming me for being diassatisfied it seems, with thje abuse? They haven't really said and given me a chance to orientate. Aspergers are known to get misinterpreted, but is there sth extra wróng in me that draws abuse towards me?After 60 years, I think ppl should begin to get it that I am unable to manage on my own without personal assistence and understand my life's possibilities. They "treat" me as though I were evil /bad or something, , is it just discrimination because I cause trouble and discomfort in my attempts to find healing and asking for help? Thank you. Lucky your patients. America seems good for alternative practices, Sweden gets suppressed, I wonder why.

[@NaliniBlossom]

Thanks Irene ...who do you recommend in UK to work with ? Lots of SE practicioners but none I find with the developmental piece....do you know of anyone ?

[@IreneLyon]

To be honest, I haven't come across anyone in the UK that has done the developmental piece relating to Kathy Kain and Stephen Terrell's work. Hopefully with time more people will seek out the training and knowledge! There is the option to work with someone online. In person sessions can be more what's needed when there's developmental trauma but from my experience some powerful support can be given virtually as well. Here's Irene's referral list. irenelyon.com/sep-referral-list/ Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@esperanzamunoz6719]

I've never gotten any Drs to pay attention all my life, I'm 72. Attention to my question of why did i faint till I was in my 20's?. You've answered why. I think. What do you think? I can't remember my mother at all. Maybe two or three.times, an outing. But not her actually ever talking.to me.

[@IreneLyon]

Hi Esperanza Munoz, Jen here from Team Lyon. We can't say for sure why you fainted until you were in your 20's and often it can be related to trauma and the nervous system. If you haven't yet seen Irene's free Healing Trauma video training you might learn more there. free Healing Trauma video training - irenelyon.com/healing-trauma

[@thesoliloquist1940]

Actually animals do show signs of ptsd.. Octopi which were saved from a predators attack ink in their sleep from probably dreaming about the attack.. Not all animals.. just the sensitive ones.. like insensitive humans are less prone to ptsd in most cases..

[@anniemedrano1317]

This was enlightening. I need your course. How do I do that? I hope it is affordable.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Annie. Seth here from Team Lyon. Irene offers two different courses. One is a 21 Day Program that you can start at any time. It gives you a comprehensive education so you can fully understand what is happening in your physiology, which is crucial - even knowing and understanding what is happening can bring a lot of relief and change - it also gives you some basic foundational practices so you can start working with your nervous system and applying the education, as well as a private Facebook group staffed by nervous system experts so you can ask questions and share with your peers. Her other program is 12 weeks and only runs once a year - starting soon on March 2. This one is much more comprehensive, with expanded education in the form of live video lectures, loads of practical exercises to work with your system, and lots of support in the form of interactive Q&A's and a private Facebook group also staffed with nervous system experts. In terms of affordability - the 21 day one costs about the same as 2 private sessions with a good somatic therapist, the longer one is more - about the price of 13 private sessions. Both offer payment plans. Here's those links so you can read more! 21 Day Tuneup - irenelyon.com/tuneup/ SmartBody SmartMind - www.smartbodysmartmind.com/

[@suzannemartin6817]

@Irenelyon so at about the 14 minute mark Irene was talking about a car accident and how you go into shutdown but you come out, maybe crying, maybe shaking… so I was hit by a commuter bicyclist while I was walking. I lost consciousness and suffered TBI a “minor” transient brain bleed and a hairline skull fracture. I don’t think I ever cried about this. I do remember being high almost while in ICU and then The next evening starting to shake and tremble uncontrollably. I felt like I couldn’t breathe but the nurses all thought I meant like really couldn’t and they kept saying my oxygen level was fine and try to slow my breathing down. As I remember it now it was a very alone feeling. I really needed someone to just sit with me but there were too many “medical” people doing medical things. Do you suppose the shaking was me trying to come out if freeze? And with no support might I have gone back into freeze? To this day, three years later I still haven’t cried about this at all. Add to that my husband seeing another woman. Filing for divorce and then cvd in quick succession. Thanks

[@IreneLyon]

Hi Suzanne Martin, Jen here from Team Lyon. It's hard to say for sure without observing your nervous system, and from what you describe it's definitely a possibility that your nervous system was trying to come out of freeze and went back into freeze in the absence of it. You may have learned this from watching Irene's videos, and it's possible to work with and transform experiences that happened even many years or decades ago.

[@nicolerachelle4234]

Inwas misdiagnosed when I was i believe I have been battling with PTSD.my whole life.my diagnosis was a catchall of borderline.i felt unsure about that.they flip floped bet a een that and manic depressive.i believe it wS because of my very lows and highs.and impulses...how do I get rediagnosed as a woman at 51..?

[@jinabecker886]

Are you still offering the course work "Nervous System" 21 day & "Smart Body: Smart Mind"?

[@IreneLyon]

Hi jina becker, Jen here from Team Lyon. Irene is still offering both the 21 Day Nervous System Tune up and SmartBody SmartMInd. Today and tomorrow there is a discount on the "Tune Up". I'll share links to both programs in case you want to check them out. 21 Day Nervous System Tune Up - 21daytuneup.com SmartBody SmartMind - www.smartbodysmartmind.com

[@timothybollenbaugh6111]

Re by 21:15 into this Q&A: Your Hoberman Sphere analogy as related to properly or improperly equipping a child. I had once made a similar analogy with metallurgy concerning the iron smelting process to make steel. Iron is brittle, and to make steel, iron must be provided with the proper elements under the proper environmental conditions. Because when the iron molecule is heated it expands, opens, and carbon atoms, vital for flexibility and strength, escape. Prevention is via the proper environment and management. Namely, the crucible is converted into a pressure cooker (other elements can be introduced for e.g. stainless steel), conducive elements are introduced to the ore, and pressure, temperature and time are managed with care. Would that parenting and therapy be as critically informed and regarded. While cooling, iron molecules contract and trap the carbon (and any introduced elements). A good outcome is a resilient enduring product. Oversights leave us stuck with a brittle metal subject to fatigue, corrosion and oxidation. But take heart, it can be reworked. I take heart because it’s encouraging to know you’re thinking this way! I think your analogy is important because it’s more than an analogy-it’s a significant part of the way this universe works, on several levels, and it seems we biological and spiritual beings recognize the logic and sense the fact.

[@teamlyon3109]

Yes Timothy Bollenbaugh! Jen here from Team Lyon. The possibility for reworking and reorganization is such a foundational concept in this work. It's so moving to see people change in deep and sustainable ways over time, to open to new possibilities for themselves in this life. It's one of the things I love most about being part of SmarBody SmartMind over time.

[@timothybollenbaugh6111]

@@teamlyon3109 Jen, I recently emailed a comment to you @ Team Lyon (didn't want to overload the regular "comments" section on your KZbin site and an added comment that didn't pertain to the subject matter). Did you get that? Or do I post such things here?

[@teamlyon3109]

@@timothybollenbaugh6111, thanks for the heads up here Timothy. I think you have have gotten word that I did see it and replied, and wanted to confirm here. - Jen

[@timothybollenbaugh6111]

@@teamlyon3109 Gratefully received both places! Thanks Jen!

[@deborahbulthe]

nice that you combine all this :')

[@Talktopics2000]

I think I’m in freeze response from 24 years of trauma. Idk if I can make it I’m 28 now

[@ireen7626]

Is your online program also suited for people that you consider " never securely wired" to begin with in combination with people that have trauma stored in the muscle system? Is the online program enough for these people?

[@thehighpriestess8431]

Ireen ......... this question is so important !

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi, Nicole here from Team Lyon. First off, I would like to mention that I don't think that any program is "enough" for anyone. It's important to recognize that this work (especially SmartBodySmartMind - smartbodysmartmind.com) is a resource for educating and gaining insight and tools on how to support yourself in healing at a nervous system level. It is not a quick fix. This work takes time. The online programs is totally suitable for people who's systems were "never securely wired" and people with trauma stored in the muscle system. The program addresses both of these situations (indirectly) from many different angles. I would suggest starting with the free Healing Trauma Series and seeing if it speaks to you! irenelyon.com/healing-trauma Plus Irene has a ton of other free resources that might be worth checking out :) Nicole

[@kaoutarkacha6664]

True i have ptsd that suddenly i went to a thérapies but it mâkes it worst but i Want to join her programm in a short Time but i feel Like im not ready to it or will it bé enough to heal my complex ptsd and i Hope i will get rid of it once of all

[@smarie8273]

How do you remove the freeze that’s in the parts of the body? If not in full freeze?

[@IreneLyon]

Hi S Marie, Jen here from Team Lyon. The process is essentially the same at a high level - it involves taking steps to grow nervous system regulation and capacity and learning attune to the area in a way that allows the freeze to lift and the underlying energy to integrate.

[@jinabecker886]

It would be awesome if you would list the page on quotes from authors. Thank you so much for your videos. I have learned so much

[@paulgeorge9228]

could dysregulated nervous system make your posture chronically shitty?

[@IreneLyon]

Hi Paul George, Jen here from Team Lyon. Yes, trauma and nervous system dysregulation do have a big impact on posture for a variety of reasons. To offer a few examples, when we are in a state of freeze and collapse, it's common for the head and shoulders to come forward, creating a curve in the spine. It's also common to hold tension in the nervous system as a way to brace against uncomfortable or overwhelming feelings. We may also shift and adapt posture in response to held procedural memories in the system. As people explore this work over time, it's common to notice significant changes in how they stand, sit, and generally move in the world.

[@Itshollymoon]

Actually opossums are marsupials Sorry, I had to. Great video!

[@iseeyouurloved1703]

“I can’t handle this anymore. No one is listening to me.” 32:54 This whole question. Yes. Triggered by my baby’s partner, I can just explode with fury and grief. I’m present for the build up of tension, but the top blowing off I’m watching from the outside. 34:51 If you are blowing up like this, it’s possible that this is early early ... fury and grief ... fury is kind of... like that’s a kid having a tantrum ... fury is like absolute ... I can’t handle this anymore. 35:13 no one is listening to me. I’m here, mom’s there, but no one is listening to me, no one is seeing me, no one is feeling me... this is what leads children to have like blow ups 35:26 But, what happens is, the child realises that blowing up isn’t going to get them what they need, and they’re going to get more shut out, what does that child do? They shut down. 35:53 The little girl that was having this tantrum, she was in true fury and grief, and then she shut down, so trapped in that little tiny nervous system is a bomb waiting to go off 36:23 If you can really track yourself, and what is occurring right before the blow up happens, and stay connected (and of course demand that your partner stay connected with you) 36:48 an early attachment rupture that your system is looking to heal 37:14 Resolve those internal things that were never met when you were little 37:30 If you’ve got someone safe that you can express this with it might really shift things 38:29 My sense is that under that fury and grief is going to be some sadness

[@iseeyouurloved1703]

Irene, you mention dissociation at 37:45 when you’re watching the blow up from the outside, when they can’t be met and have so much intensity, it’s the system dissociating. Is this different to the freeze response?

[@teamlyon3109]

@@iseeyouurloved1703, Jen here from Team Lyon. From a nervous system perspective dissociation is typically a symptom of freeze, or conservation, physiology. So it's different in the sense that it's a subset, but not in the sense that it's one of a number of symptoms of freeze physiology. Hope that helps clarify.

[@iseeyouurloved1703]

Team Lyon Yes completely clear thank you for this

[@iseeyouurloved1703]

Team Lyon For anyone else reading along in these comments, Irene addresses the difference in a new video today: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Y4GwloCuhJ2ssJo. Whereby dissociation is a psychological construct and freeze is physiological. There will often be both going on.

[@makaylahollywood3677]

Emotional scaffolding will help keep you safe- when your house falls down.

[@leal173]

If Casey's story was in a currently abusive relationship, how would you have responded?

[@teamlyon3109]

Lea Black, Jen here from Team Lyon. If someone is in a currently abusive relationship where they are in physical danger, the first priority is in ensuring their safety wherever possible.

[@pandemicnova]

58:02

[@ellenpetersen3156]

Hi, there! Question for you. I’m working with an SEP and have been for about a year. I entered into this after something occurred in my life that “broke the camels back” like Irene said. Most days I feel so sleepy, exhausted, disinterested, wanting to be alone. But I also have worked to practice noticing when my heart rate does increase, when I have some anxiety or anger, etc, yet my body feels tired and doesn’t want to do anything about it. Can you speak into this? To me it sounds like there is a lot of freeze there, but I’m not quite sure how to move through this when I feel both freeze and wanting to flee.

[@teamlyon3109]

Hi Ellen Peterson, Jen here from Team Lyon (also an SEP). These are great questions to bring to your SEP if you haven't already, and I'll share a few thoughts too. The feeling sleepy, exhausted, disinterested, wanting to be alone, are all characteristic of freeze. And it's a positive sign that you're noticing signs of the activation beneath the freeze. As far as the tiredness goes, sometimes this is because we're in freeze, sometimes the system is depleted from carrying a heavy load of survival and accumulated stress (e.g. as is the case with CFS and many other chronic conditions), and often it's a combination of both. Either way, treading slowly and gently to see how the system responds as you open to the activation (aka life force) beneath the freeze can be important. When you feel both the freeze and wanting to flee, you might acknowledge the freeze and very slowly imagine yourself starting to flee to see what happens. You've probably explored titration and pendulation with your SEP, if so, you can apply those concepts here, gently moving back and forth between (the edges of) the two states to see what wants to emerge. FYI Irene teaches much of this in SmartBody SmartMind. Hope this is helpful!

[@ellenpetersen3156]

@@teamlyon3109 Whoops! Just now seeing this. Thank you so much, Jen, for your kind and thorough response! Tears filled my eyes just from feeling heard. I am continuing to work gently on this with myself, and finding those edges like you mentioned! Also, on the waitlist for SBSM. Many thanks and God bless!

[@teamlyon3109]

@@ellenpetersen3156, you are very welcome! It's great to hear that my response spoke to your experience and that you're been able to bring some gentleness to this as you explore it. Hope to see you in SBSM!

[@karmayogstructuralengineer851]

Hi, Irene Mam, Thanks for Your reply. The following video is also on Flight or fight system. She has also explains it very beautifully. Thanks again that you both are doing very good work. Since our society is little aware about this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJaTgaSQfZJsjcU

[@karmayogstructuralengineer851]

Have you seen Dr Kims Video

[@IreneLyon]

Does it relate to Nervous system healing? What video do you suggest. Nicole - Team Lyon Moderator

[@karmayogstructuralengineer851]

Hi, Irene Mam, Thanks for Your reply. The following video is also on Flight or fight system. She has also explains it very beautifully. Thanks again that you both are doing very good work. Since our society is little aware about this. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJaTgaSQfZJsjcU