Schema Coping Modes: FREEZE

Have you tried logging off?

When you are at the point of giving in, when you just don't have any more fight left in you, when you can't even run away from it any more, then your only option is to freeze.

In Schema speak, we call this the Compliant Surrenderer mode. What this means is that you surrender to your schema.

For example, let's imagine that you have the Failure schema.

The FIGHT response says "I have to prove that I am not a failure by doing everything perfectly"

The FLIGHT response says "I won't go to the meeting because I know I screwed up and I'm just going to get in trouble"

The FREEZE response says "Yeah, I'm a failure. I fail all the time. I'm not even going to bother trying."

Compliant Surrenderer handout from The Psych Collective

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