Time to Defrost: Let’s Talk About Frozen Trauma

Just like a turkey needs time to thaw before it’s ready for the oven, our bodies sometimes hold onto frozen trauma that needs to be defrosted, too.

As Peter Levine explains in Waking the Tiger:

“The traumatic symptoms are not caused by the ‘triggering’ event itself. They stem from the frozen residue of energy that has not been resolved and discharged; this residue remains trapped in the nervous system where it can wreak havoc on our bodies and spirits. The long-term, alarming, debilitating, and often bizarre symptoms of PTSD develop when we cannot complete the process of moving in, through, and out of the ‘immobility’ or ‘freezing’ state.” (Levine, p. 19)

Sounds like a lot, right? But think of it like this: when trauma hits, our bodies go into “freeze mode”—just like a frozen turkey.

If we don’t thaw out and release that stagnant energy, it can cause all kinds of challenges.

It’s like the turkey that stays frozen for too long—eventually, it’ll lead to some serious issues when it’s time to add heat and cook.

This is why you cry in therapy. The tears are part of the defrosting process.

Remember Frozen? “Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let it show” is what Elsa sings. But as we know, bottling up those emotions only leads to an eventual thaw—and the tears are simply a sign that you're allowing yourself to release what’s been trapped.

So, what can we do?

We defrost!

Whether it’s through therapy, self-care, or bodywork to release the stuck energy, the process of “defrosting” helps us move past those immobilizing, freeze-frame moments and get back to living.

If you’re feeling like you’re stuck or you're suddenly melting at inconvenient times like Olaf, it might be time for some therapeutic emotional thawing. Let’s talk about how we can help you move through the freeze and into the warmth of peace.

Defrosting isn’t as easy as popping a turkey in the microwave—but we can get there.

Stay warm,

Hannah

Disney. (2013). Frozen [Film screenshot]. Walt Disney Animation Studios.