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Am I in shock? I can help.

Am I in Shock? Understanding Shock, Freeze & Survival States

What Do We Mean by Shock?

Shock is not always dramatic or obvious.

Many people associate shock with accidents or medical emergencies, but psychological shock can occur after overwhelm, loss, trauma, sudden change, or prolonged stress.

Shock is a nervous system response. It happens when an experience feels too much, too fast, or too unsafe for the system to process at the time.

Rather than feeling distressed, many people in shock feel:

Numb
Disconnected
Foggy
Flat or empty
Strangely calm while everything feels unreal

How Do I Know If I’m in Shock?

You might be in a shock or freeze state if you notice:

Feeling detached from yourself or your life
Difficulty thinking clearly or making decisions
Feeling frozen, stuck, or unable to act
Emotional numbness or lack of motivation
Sudden exhaustion or collapse after stress
A sense that life is happening at a distance

Some people also experience:

Poor sleep
Memory gaps
Feeling “not quite here”
Alternating anxiety and shutdown

These are not failures. They are signs of protection.

How Shock Can Hide

Shock does not always appear immediately.

For some people it shows up weeks, months, or even years after:

An accident or medical event
Bereavement or sudden loss
Relationship breakdown
Abuse or ongoing emotional stress
Childhood experiences where safety was missing

Life may look fine on the outside while the nervous system remains braced on the inside.

Why Talking Alone Often Isn’t Enough

Shock lives below conscious thought.

You may understand what happened and still feel unable to move on. This is because the body has not yet registered that the danger has passed.

In shock states, the nervous system prioritises survival over reflection. This is why insight, reassurance, or positive thinking often feel ineffective.

How I Help When Someone Is in Shock

My work focuses on helping the nervous system gently come out of shock, rather than pushing for change.

Sessions are calm, slow, and respectful of the body’s pace.

Depending on what is needed, support may involve:

Reducing the emotional charge linked to overwhelming events
Helping the nervous system move out of freeze or shutdown
Restoring a sense of safety and orientation
Softening identity beliefs formed during shock (e.g. “I’m not safe”, “I can’t cope”)

Therapies Used to Support Shock Recovery

Support for shock may include a combination of:

IEMT (Integral Eye Movement Therapy) – to reduce emotional and identity imprints without re‑traumatisation
Trauma‑informed nervous system work – to support regulation and safety
Timeline Therapy – to release emotional shock held around specific events
Gentle NLP approaches – to support internal orientation and choice

Each approach is used carefully and only when appropriate.

What People Often Notice as Shock Lifts

As the nervous system settles, people often describe:

Feeling more present
Emotions returning gradually
Clearer thinking
Improved energy and sleep
A renewed sense of connection to life

This process is not forced. The system moves when it feels safe to do so.

Is This You?

Support for shock may be helpful if:

You feel frozen or disconnected
You’ve “kept going” but now feel empty or exhausted
Life doesn’t feel fully real
You know something has changed inside you

A Gentle Invitation

If you are wondering whether you may be in shock, you are welcome to reach out.

A free consultation offers a calm space to talk, ask questions, and explore what support might help.

There is no pressure. Just a place to begin.