Hypoarousal
- Low energy
- Exhaustion
- Numbness
- Shut down
- Depression
- Disconnection
- Freeze
- Dissociated
- Unable to think clearly
Hypoarousal is another defence mechanism.
It can feel like exhaustion, numbness, disconnection from everything and everyone, or like you’re moving through a dream. You may want to sleep a lot, eat very little, and feel shut down or dissociated. Processing information becomes difficult, and even hearing what someone is saying can feel overwhelming.
Healing is difficult when we are in either hypoarousal or hyperarousal. We need to be in our Window of Tolerance, where the prefrontal cortex is switched on and our thinking brain is online.
The body naturally wants to return to balance, so it will try to pull us back into our window. One way it does this is by seeking out things that make us feel alive. Sometimes these are risky behaviours, which is why it’s important to learn safe and healthy ways to “wake up” and come back into connection.
The goal of therapy is to expand the window of tolerance so that more of life feels manageable without slipping into shutdown or overwhelm.
When you are hypoaroused, the key is to notice what helps bring you back. What gets you moving? What helps you reconnect?
Love, Jen 🪷
References
Ogden, P. (2009). Modulation, mindfulness, and movement in the treatment of trauma-related depression.
Siegel, D. (1999). The developing mind. New York: Guilford.
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