You Are Not Lazy You Are Tired

Understanding freeze response, shutdown, and why rest isn’t weakness.

What Do We Mean by “Freeze” or Shutdown?

Most people know about fight - or - flight, my first blog was also about explaining the fight - or - flight - freeze. But freeze is the sress response that tends to get overlooked.

Freeze is when your nervous system, after prolonged stress or threat, shifts into a kind of protective shutdown. You might feel numb, foggy, low-energy, unmotivated, or checked out.

It can look like procrastination or “laziness” from the outside but it’s actually your body saying:

"I don’t feel safe enough to act right now."

This isn’t about being weak or undisciplined. It’s a biological survival response.

Why Does This Happen?

Your nervous system is constantly scanning for danger and safety even if you’re not conscious of it. When the system feels overwhelmed for too long (chronic stress, burnout, unresolved trauma, or relentless pressure), it might stop fighting and shift into energy conservation mode.

This can feel like:

• Not being able to start tasks, even simple ones

• Feeling emotionally flat or disconnected

• Wanting to rest but struggling to feel restored

• Guilt or shame about not doing "enough"

And when this happens, most people don’t respond with compassion. They get frustrated. They push harder. They call themselves lazy.

Have You Felt This Way?

Have you ever said to yourself:

"Why can’t I just do this? I have the time I just can’t start."

"I don’t even feel stressed anymore, I just feel… empty."

"Even when I rest, I don’t feel better."

These are signs that your nervous system needs gentle repair, not punishment.

What Can You Do to Work With It?

• Pause the pressure: Instead of “fixing” it, ask: What does this part of me need?

• Do one small thing at a time: Reduce the scale. One dish, one step, one gentle task.

• Use sensory grounding: Temperature (cold splash, warm tea), texture, or movement can help slowly bring the system back online.

• Name it, don’t shame it: “I’m in freeze” is kinder and more helpful than “I’m failing.”

• Build in micro-doses of safety: Light, breath, warmth, music, comfort, connection.

How Can Sessions Help?

Sessions can be a space to safely understand your nervous system, rather than fight against it. Together, we explore what’s underneath the shutdown response old stress, unmet needs, overwork, emotional overload and help you reconnect to your energy, agency, and self-trust.

You’re not lazy. You’re responding to something. And healing begins with listening instead of pushing.