Why does the human body freeze due to fear?

 

Many times it happens that suddenly something scary comes in front of us and we stop immediately. Suppose you are walking in the forest and suddenly a lion comes in front of you. At that time you stop completely out of fear, neither do you move nor do you utter a sound. Now the question is why does this happen? Let's understand it in detail and know the science behind it.

Why do we "freeze" when we are scared?:  When we are suddenly faced with a scary situation, our body and brain go through a special process. This is called "freezing". This process is part of our body's natural stress response, also known as "fight-or-flight". When we are in danger, our brain immediately releases certain hormones, which cause many changes in the body. Because of these changes, we sometimes freeze.

What happens in the body?:  When we are afraid, a part of our brain called the hypothalamus sends signals to the body to release stress hormones such as adrenalin and norepinephrine. These hormones prepare the body to deal with danger.

When we freeze, our muscles become stiff, our heart beats faster, and our breathing slows down. All of this gives our body a chance to stabilize and assess the situation. Meanwhile, our brain decides whether we want to fight, flee, or just stay put for a while.

Understand from a psychological point of view:  Freezing is not just a physical reaction, it is also a mental reaction. When we are scared, our brain tries to understand the situation for a few seconds. This gives us a chance to think about what our next step should be. This process makes our brain more active so that we can correctly assess the situation around us.

The advantage of freezing:  When we freeze, our mind and body get some time to analyze the threat. This prevents us from making quick decisions, so that we can take the right action at the right time.

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