Tonic Immobility – A Response to Trauma or Stress and Crime Victims

Understanding the Involuntary Freeze Response

Principal Category: Trauma Response

Authors:
•  Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D. – Anthropologist, Scientist, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

Abstract

Tonic immobility is an involuntary, survival-based freeze response triggered by extreme fear or trauma, leading to temporary paralysis, emotional numbness, and cognitive shutdown. This response, commonly observed in both animals and humans, can significantly impact crime victims, particularly those who have experienced scams, fraud, abuse, or violence. Victims of trauma may find themselves unable to react appropriately in high-stress situations, delaying protective actions such as reporting crimes, seeking legal or financial assistance, or removing themselves from dangerous encounters. When faced with new crises, their nervous system may default to tonic immobility, increasing their vulnerability to further victimization. Understanding tonic immobility as a physiological reaction rather than a personal failure is essential for recovery. Victims can work with therapists to identify early warning signs, develop grounding techniques, and engage in trauma-informed therapy to retrain their nervous system’s response to stress. By increasing awareness and implementing coping strategies, individuals can regain control over their reactions and reduce the long-term impact of tonic immobility on their decision-making and self-protection.

Tonic Immobility: Understanding the Involuntary Freeze Response

Tonic immobility, also known as thanatosis or “playing dead,” is a natural state of temporary paralysis observed in various animal species, including humans, when confronted with extreme threats. This involuntary response is considered an anti-predator behavior, occurring most often in response to an extreme threat such as being captured by a (perceived) predator. However, it also affects those who have been traumatized.

About Tonic Immobility

Tonic immobility is a natural, involuntary response to extreme fear or perceived life-threatening situations, where the body temporarily enters a state of paralysis or physical rigidity. This reaction, commonly observed in animals as a defense mechanism, also occurs in humans, particularly in response to trauma. It is sometimes referred to as the freeze response and is distinct from the more widely recognized fight or flight responses.

When faced with intense fear, the brain can become overwhelmed, leading to a shutdown of voluntary movement. This paralysis is not a conscious decision but a reflex triggered by the nervous system. In high-stress situations, such as violent attacks, natural disasters, or extreme fear-inducing events, a person may find themselves unable to move, speak, or even respond to external stimuli. The body essentially “shuts down” as a last-resort survival mechanism.

Research in psychology and neuroscience indicates that tonic immobility is linked to the autonomic nervous system, specifically the activation of the parasympathetic branch following an extreme sympathetic arousal. This means that after an initial surge of adrenaline and fear, the body can enter an automatic state of stillness, reducing movement and potentially minimizing further harm. While this reaction can be adaptive in some situations—such as playing dead to avoid a predator—it can also be highly distressing for those who experience it in response to trauma.

Tonic immobility is commonly reported in victims of assault, abuse, and other traumatic experiences, including scams that trigger extreme psychological stress. Scam victims, particularly those who feel trapped in a manipulative situation, may experience a mental and emotional freeze, making it difficult to react or take immediate action. This can explain why some victims struggle to disengage from scammers, delay reporting fraud, or feel powerless in the aftermath of being deceived.

Understanding that tonic immobility is a biological response rather than a personal failure is crucial for trauma recovery. Many victims blame themselves for “not acting” or “not fighting back” in the moment, but recognizing this response as an involuntary survival mechanism can help reduce self-blame. Trauma-informed therapy and education on the freeze response can assist individuals in processing their experiences and regaining a sense of control after a traumatic event.

In the Lives of Traumatized Crime Victims

Tonic immobility plays a significant role in the lives of traumatized crime victims, influencing how they react to danger, stress, and new crises long after their initial victimization. When someone experiences trauma, particularly a crime that involves deception, violence, or manipulation, their nervous system can become conditioned to respond with involuntary paralysis in moments of extreme fear or stress. This automatic freeze response is not a conscious choice but a deeply ingrained survival mechanism that can persist well beyond the original trauma.

For many crime victims, tonic immobility manifests as an overwhelming sense of helplessness, an inability to act, or even physical rigidity when confronted with reminders of their trauma. It can appear in a variety of ways, from freezing up in high-stress situations to struggling with decision-making, avoidance behaviors, or emotional numbness. Victims of scams, fraud, or violent crime may find themselves unable to react effectively when they realize they are being deceived or attacked, not because they do not recognize the threat, but because their nervous system enters a state of shutdown. This response is not just about fear—it is the body’s way of protecting itself by reducing movement, minimizing detection, or attempting to endure a threatening situation.

How Tonic Immobility Responds to New Crises

For traumatized crime victims, tonic immobility does not always fade once the immediate danger has passed. Instead, it can become a recurring pattern that re-emerges when new crises occur. When faced with a new threat—whether it be another scam attempt, financial hardship, legal trouble, or an unexpected emotional trigger—their nervous system may default to the same freeze response that was activated during their original trauma.

This means that instead of responding to a new crisis with problem-solving, seeking help, or taking immediate action, a traumatized individual may experience:

Inability to React

They may feel paralyzed, unable to make decisions, reach out for support, or take the necessary steps to protect themselves. This can result in delayed responses to threats, such as failing to report a scam, avoiding financial institutions, or hesitating to seek medical or legal assistance.

During episodes of tonic immobility, individuals may experience a profound sense of paralysis, rendering them unable to make decisions, seek support, or take necessary protective actions. This immobilization can lead to delayed responses to threats, such as not reporting a scam, avoiding interactions with financial institutions, or hesitating to seek medical or legal assistance. This paralysis is not a conscious choice but an automatic survival mechanism triggered by the brain when perceiving an inescapable threat.

Emotional Numbness or Disassociation

Instead of feeling immediate distress, they may disconnect from their emotions, as if they are watching their life unfold from a distance. This can make it difficult to fully process what is happening in real time.

In the midst of tonic immobility, some individuals may detach from their emotions, experiencing a sense of watching events unfold from a distance. This dissociation serves as a psychological buffer against the overwhelming stress of the situation, making it challenging to process events in real-time. Such detachment can hinder the individual’s ability to respond appropriately during the incident and complicate emotional processing afterward.

Cognitive Shutdown

Their ability to think critically, assess risk, or remember essential details can become impaired. This can lead to poor judgment or an inability to recall key facts when dealing with authorities, lawyers, or financial institutions after being victimized.

The freeze response can impair critical thinking, risk assessment, and memory recall. This cognitive shutdown may lead to poor judgment or an inability to remember essential details when interacting with authorities, legal representatives, or financial institutions after the traumatic event. The diminished cognitive function during tonic immobility can complicate the aftermath of victimization, as the individual may struggle to articulate their experience or make informed decisions.

Physical Symptoms

Some victims experience physical effects such as muscle stiffness, shallow breathing, dizziness, or even temporary loss of speech when faced with a crisis that reminds them of their past trauma.

Physiological manifestations of tonic immobility can include muscle stiffness, shallow breathing, dizziness, or even temporary loss of speech when confronted with a crisis reminiscent of past trauma. These physical symptoms are part of the body’s automatic response to extreme stress, aiming to protect the individual by reducing movement and sensory input. However, they can also increase vulnerability in dangerous situations, as the inability to move or communicate hampers self-protective actions.

Because tonic immobility is an automatic response, it can be frustrating for crime victims who feel as though they should be able to react differently. Many experience self-blame, wondering why they “let it happen again” or why they did not take action sooner. However, recognizing that this reaction is deeply rooted in the nervous system can help victims begin to regain control.

Understanding these manifestations of tonic immobility is crucial for recognizing how trauma responses can affect behavior and decision-making during and after a crisis. This awareness can inform support strategies for individuals who have experienced trauma, aiding in their recovery and resilience.

How a Victim Can Recognize Tonic Immobility as It Is Happening

Recognizing tonic immobility in the moment can be challenging because it is an automatic survival response that occurs without conscious decision-making. However, understanding the signs can help a victim identify when it is happening and take steps to counteract it. If you are a victim of trauma, particularly from scams, abuse, or other crimes, being able to recognize the onset of tonic immobility can allow you to regain control more quickly in high-stress situations.

Sudden Loss of Physical Control

One of the most defining characteristics of tonic immobility is the inability to move or respond as you normally would in a stressful or dangerous situation. You may notice:

• • • Feeling Frozen in Place – Your body feels stiff or paralyzed, and you cannot move even though your mind is aware of what is happening.
    • Weakness or Loss of Muscle Function – Your limbs may feel heavy, unresponsive, or difficult to control.
    • Shallow or Restricted Breathing – Your breath may become slow, shallow, or feel constricted, as if your chest is tightening.
    • Trembling or Involuntary Shaking – While you may feel frozen, small involuntary muscle tremors or shaking can still occur.

Cognitive and Emotional Symptoms

Tonic immobility does not just affect the body—it also impacts mental functioning. Victims may experience:

• • • Feeling Disconnected or Detached – You may feel like you are watching the situation happen from a distance, as though you are not fully present in your body.
    • Mental Fog or Blankness – Your mind may go blank, making it difficult to think, process information, or come up with a response.
    • Inability to Speak or Respond – Even if you know you should say something, you may be unable to form words or produce any vocal reaction.
    • Intense Fear Without Action – You recognize the danger, but instead of reacting with fight or flight, you feel powerless to do anything.

Sensory Overload or Numbness

The body’s nervous system may react with extremes, either intensifying or dulling sensations:

• • • Heightened Awareness of Sounds or Movements – Everything may feel amplified, with small noises or movements seeming much more pronounced.
    • Complete Emotional Numbness – Instead of panic or fear, you may feel nothing at all—like your emotions have completely shut down.
    • Coldness or Tingling in the Limbs – Blood flow may shift away from extremities, causing a cold or tingling sensation in the hands and feet.

Recognizing Tonic Immobility in the Moment

Since tonic immobility is an involuntary response, it can be difficult to stop once it starts. However, you can learn to recognize its onset by paying attention to early warning signs:

• • • Noticing when your body starts to tense up and feel rigid
    • Realizing that you are not reacting when you logically know you should
    • Experiencing difficulty breathing or feeling like you are holding your breath
    • Becoming mentally stuck, unable to form words or process thoughts clearly

Once you identify that you are experiencing tonic immobility, taking small steps—such as focusing on deep breathing, wiggling your fingers or toes, or engaging your senses—can help break the freeze response and regain control. Recognizing it as a physiological response, rather than personal failure, is an important part of overcoming its impact.

Overview of the Neurology of Tonic Immobility

Tonic immobility (TI) is an involuntary, temporary state of motor inhibition characterized by physical immobility and muscular rigidity in response to extreme fear or threat. This response is observed across various species, including humans, and serves as a last-resort defense mechanism when fight or flight options are not viable.​

Initiation of Tonic Immobility

The onset of TI begins with the perception of an inescapable threat, triggering a cascade of neural processes:​

• • • Threat Detection: Sensory inputs identifying immediate danger activate the amygdala, the brain’s center for processing fear and threat-related stimuli.​

    • Autonomic Activation: The amygdala stimulates the hypothalamus, initiating the autonomic nervous system’s response. Initially, this may involve the sympathetic branch, preparing the body for potential fight or flight responses.​

    • Shift to Parasympathetic Dominance: When escape or defense is deemed impossible, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes predominant, leading to a sudden decrease in heart rate and muscle tone, facilitating the onset of immobility.​

Progression During Tonic Immobility

Once initiated, TI progresses through several physiological and neural stages.

• • • Muscular Rigidity: There is a noticeable increase in muscle tone, resulting in a rigid, unmoving posture. This physical state is maintained throughout the duration of TI.​

    • Altered Neural Activity: Electroencephalogram (EEG) studies indicate high-voltage slow waves in the cortical regions during TI, suggesting reduced cortical arousal and a state akin to deep relaxation or hypnosis.​

    • Suppressed Reflexes: Both polysynaptic flexor and monosynaptic reflexes are diminished, indicating a broad suppression of motor responses. This suppression is independent of cortical activity, implying involvement of subcortical structures.​

    • Brainstem Involvement: Research indicates that the integrity of the brainstem, particularly the pontomesencephalic region, is crucial for the manifestation of TI. Lesions in this area abolish both righting reflexes and TI, highlighting its role in maintaining this state.​

Termination of Tonic Immobility

The conclusion of a TI episode occurs when the perceived threat diminishes or disappears:​

• • • Sensory Reassessment: Continuous monitoring of environmental cues allows the brain to detect the reduction or absence of threat.​

    • Autonomic Reversal: A shift back to sympathetic nervous system dominance occurs, increasing heart rate and muscle tone, facilitating the resumption of voluntary movement.​

    • Restoration of Motor Functions: Normal neural activity patterns return, and the individual regains full motor control, emerging from the immobile state.​

Understanding the neurological underpinnings of tonic immobility provides insight into this primal survival mechanism, emphasizing the brain’s capacity to modulate behavior and physiology in response to extreme threats.

How Tonic Immobility Puts Victims at Greater Risk in Dangerous Situations

Tonic immobility can place crime victims at significantly greater risk when they encounter new stressors, particularly in dangerous situations. Because this involuntary freeze response overrides conscious decision-making and the ability to take protective action, victims may find themselves unable to react effectively in moments where quick responses are crucial. Whether faced with another scam attempt, an aggressive individual, or an escalating conflict, the automatic shutdown of their body’s fight-or-flight system can make them more vulnerable to harm.

Delayed or Absent Protective Reactions

One of the most immediate risks of tonic immobility is that it prevents victims from taking the necessary steps to escape or defend themselves when confronted with danger. In life-threatening situations, the ability to fight back, run, or even call for help is essential. However, if a victim’s nervous system defaults to tonic immobility, they may experience:

• • • Inability to Move or Speak – Victims may find themselves frozen in place, unable to physically react even when they recognize the danger. This can be especially dangerous in cases of physical violence, robbery, or attempted assault.
    • Failure to Call for Help – Whether in a financial scam, an abusive situation, or a confrontation with a threatening person, victims may struggle to speak or reach out for assistance. They may freeze instead of calling 911, alerting a bystander, or removing themselves from the situation.
    • Lack of Defensive Actions – Victims who experience tonic immobility may be unable to resist or physically protect themselves, which can make them appear compliant to an aggressor or scammer. This increases the risk of further exploitation.

Increased Vulnerability to Repeated Victimization

Tonic immobility does not just affect physical danger—it can also make victims more susceptible to psychological manipulation. Scammers, abusers, and con artists often rely on victims being passive, overwhelmed, or unable to think critically in high-pressure moments. When faced with a new fraud attempt or coercion, a victim experiencing tonic immobility may:

• • • Struggle to Identify Red Flags – Their cognitive processing may slow down, making it difficult to recognize manipulation tactics or deception in real time.
    • Fail to Set Boundaries – If they freeze instead of saying no, scammers or predators may take advantage of their hesitation, pressuring them into compliance.
    • Avoid Taking Corrective Action – Even after realizing they are being targeted again, a victim may be unable to report the crime, seek legal help, or warn others because the freeze response keeps them in a state of inaction.

Impaired Decision-Making Under Stress

In dangerous situations, victims need to be able to make quick, rational decisions to protect themselves. However, tonic immobility impairs cognitive functioning, making it difficult for victims to assess risk, think through their options, or recall important information. This can lead to:

• • • Poor Judgment Calls – Victims may not react appropriately, such as staying in an unsafe environment too long or failing to remove themselves from a manipulative conversation.
    • Inability to Remember Critical Details – In the aftermath of a dangerous encounter, they may struggle to recall important facts about what happened, which can make reporting to law enforcement or financial institutions more difficult.
    • Passive Compliance with Threats – Under stress, a victim experiencing tonic immobility may default to following an aggressor’s demands, whether it is transferring money, providing personal information, or remaining in a dangerous situation longer than they should.

How to Discuss Incidents of Tonic Immobility with a Therapist to Find Solutions

If you have experienced tonic immobility during past traumatic events or find yourself freezing in response to stress, discussing it with a therapist can help you understand this response and develop strategies to manage it. Since tonic immobility is an involuntary survival reaction, therapy can provide insight into why it happens and how to regain control when faced with future stressors. Approaching the conversation with clarity and openness can help you get the most out of your sessions.

Recognizing and Describing Your Experience

To effectively communicate with your therapist, start by reflecting on your past experiences with tonic immobility. Consider:

• • • When It Happened – Identify specific incidents where you felt frozen, unable to move, speak, or react. This could include moments of danger, high stress, or even unexpected triggers.
    • How It Felt Physically – Describe what you experienced in your body, such as stiffness, heaviness, breathlessness, numbness, or an inability to move.
    • What You Thought and Felt Emotionally – Recall what was going through your mind. Did you feel detached, overwhelmed, blank, or powerless? Did you want to act but couldn’t?
    • How Long It Lasted – Did the episode last for seconds, minutes, or longer? What eventually helped you regain control?
    • What Happened Afterward – Reflect on how you felt once the freeze response ended. Did you experience shame, frustration, exhaustion, or emotional numbness?

Being able to articulate these details can help your therapist understand your unique experience with tonic immobility and tailor coping strategies to your needs.

Framing the Conversation with Your Therapist

When discussing tonic immobility with a therapist, it may be helpful to express your concerns and goals clearly. You might say:

• • • “I’ve noticed that in high-stress or dangerous situations, I freeze instead of reacting. I want to understand why this happens and how I can respond differently.”
    • “I have experienced moments where my body felt paralyzed, and I couldn’t move or speak even when I knew I needed to. It left me feeling powerless. I want to learn how to break free from this response.”
    • “I feel frustrated because when I encounter new stressful situations, my body seems to shut down. I want to explore techniques to prevent or reduce this reaction.”
    • “I’ve heard that tonic immobility is an automatic response, but I want to know if there are ways to train my body and mind to react differently.”

By setting clear objectives for your therapy sessions, you give your therapist a starting point for exploring your experiences and finding solutions.

Exploring the Underlying Causes

A therapist may help you uncover the deeper reasons why tonic immobility occurs in your life. This might involve:

• • • Identifying Past Traumas – Your therapist may ask about past experiences that triggered this response and how your nervous system learned to react in this way.
    • Recognizing Patterns – You may discuss whether tonic immobility occurs in specific situations or if it has become a generalized response to stress.
    • Exploring Emotional and Cognitive Factors – Understanding how thoughts of helplessness, fear, or past trauma contribute to the freeze response can help address its root causes.
    • Connecting to the Body’s Response – Since tonic immobility is a physiological reaction, some therapy approaches focus on body awareness and regulation to reduce its impact.

Developing Strategies to Overcome Tonic Immobility

Your therapist can help you build practical coping skills to prevent or reduce tonic immobility in future situations. These may include:

• • • Grounding Techniques – Using sensory awareness, such as focusing on textures, sounds, or scents, to stay present and avoid dissociation.
    • Controlled Breathing Exercises – Practicing slow, deep breathing to signal to the nervous system that you are safe.
    • Physical Activation – Engaging in small movements like wiggling fingers or toes to regain mobility during a freeze response.
    • Cognitive Reframing – Challenging automatic thoughts of helplessness and replacing them with empowering self-talk.
    • Progressive Exposure Therapy – Gradually confronting stressors in a controlled environment to train the body and mind to react differently.
    • Somatic Therapy or EMDR – Exploring therapies designed to help process trauma at the body level and rewire automatic responses.

Setting Goals for Progress

Discuss with your therapist what progress in managing tonic immobility might look like for you. This could include:

• • • Recognizing early signs of the freeze response and taking action to prevent full immobility.
    • Implementing grounding or movement techniques in stressful situations.
    • Reducing the frequency or intensity of tonic immobility episodes.
    • Feeling more in control of your body and reactions over time.

By openly discussing your experiences, concerns, and goals, therapy can become a valuable tool in helping you move beyond tonic immobility and regain a sense of empowerment in your life.

Breaking the Cycle and Reducing Risk

Recovering from tonic immobility and reducing its impact on future crises requires intentional steps to retrain the nervous system. Trauma-informed therapy, mindfulness practices, and self-awareness techniques can help victims gradually rewire their response to stress. Learning grounding exercises, practicing slow and controlled breathing, and developing a crisis action plan can all help counteract the automatic freeze response.

Most importantly, crime victims need to understand that their body’s reaction is not a sign of weakness but a deeply ingrained survival mechanism. By recognizing the role of tonic immobility in their response to trauma and taking steps to regain agency, they can begin to reclaim control over their lives, build resilience, and prevent future crises from paralyzing them.

Automatic Survival Response

While tonic immobility is an automatic survival response, victims can take steps to retrain their nervous system and reduce the likelihood of freezing in dangerous situations. This can include:

• • • Learning Grounding Techniques – Practicing deep breathing, physical movement, or sensory grounding can help disrupt the freeze response and regain control.
    • Developing a Crisis Action Plan – Preparing ahead of time for potential dangers—such as identifying safe exits, having emergency contacts, or rehearsing what to say in high-stress moments—can help override immobility in real situations.
    • Therapeutic Recovery – Trauma-informed therapy, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) or cognitive-behavioral therapy, can help victims reprocess past trauma and reduce automatic freeze responses in the future.

Recognizing tonic immobility as a potential risk factor is crucial for crime victims seeking to rebuild their confidence and protect themselves in future encounters. By taking proactive steps to address this response, victims can increase their ability to react effectively and minimize their vulnerability in high-risk situations.

References

• Beth Wynkoop, SAFE/SART Policy Advocate – Trauma and the Brain: Understanding Tonic Immobility https://mcasa.org/newsletters/article/trauma-and-the-brain-understanding-tonic-immobility
• Rape paralysis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_paralysis
• Magalhaes AA, Gama CMF, Gonçalves RM, Portugal LCL, David IA, Serpeloni F, Wernersbach Pinto L, Assis SG, Avanci JQ, Volchan E, Figueira I, Vilete LMP, Luz MP, Berger W, Erthal FS, Mendlowicz MV, Mocaiber I, Pereira MG, de Oliveira L. Tonic Immobility is Associated with PTSD Symptoms in Traumatized Adolescents. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2021 Sep 1;14:1359-1369. doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S317343. PMID: 34512046; PMCID: PMC8420784. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S317343
• What Is Trauma Immobility in Humans? https://psychcentral.com/health/trauma-induced-paralysis
• Norte, C. E., Volchan, E., Vila, J., Mata, J. L., Arbol, J. R., Mendlowicz, M., Berger, W., Luz, M. P., Figueira, I., & Souza, G. G. (2019). Tonic Immobility in PTSD: Exacerbation of Emotional Cardiac Defense Response. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 427940. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01213
• Lloyd, C. S., Lanius, R. A., Brown, M. F., Neufeld, R. J., Frewen, P. A., & McKinnon, M. C. (2019). Assessing Post-Traumatic Tonic Immobility Responses: The Scale for Tonic Immobility Occurring Post-Trauma. Chronic Stress. https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547018822492
• Fragkaki, I., Stins, J., Roelofs, K., Jongedijk, R. A., & Hagenaars, M. A. (2016). Tonic immobility differentiates stress responses in PTSD. Brain and Behavior, 6(11), e00546. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.546
• Magalhaes, A. A., F Gama, C. M., Gonçalves, R. M., L Portugal, L. C., David, I. A., Serpeloni, F., Pinto, L. W., Assis, S. G., Avanci, J. Q., Volchan, E., Figueira, I., P Vilete, L. M., Luz, M. P., Berger, W., Erthal, F. S., Mendlowicz, M. V., Mocaiber, I., & Pereira, M. G. (2021). Tonic Immobility is Associated with PTSD Symptoms in Traumatized Adolescents. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 14, 1359. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S317343
• Fragkaki, I., Stins, J., Roelofs, K., Jongedijk, R. A., & Hagenaars, M. A. (2016). Tonic immobility differentiates stress responses in PTSD. Brain and Behavior, 6(11), e00546. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.546
• Carli G, Farabollini F. Neurophysiological mechanisms involved in tonic immobility (TI). Prog Brain Res. 2022;271(1):145-166. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.02.006. Epub 2022 Mar 12. PMID: 35397887. https://doi.org/10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.02.006
• Bhandiwad, A. A., Chu, N. C., Semenova, S. A., Holmes, G. A., & Burgess, H. A. (2022). A cerebellar-prepontine circuit for tonic immobility triggered by an inescapable threat. Science Advances. https://doi.org/abo0549
• Karin Roelofs – Freeze for action: neurobiological mechanisms in animal and human freezing https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2016.0206
• Tonic Immobility – https://www.complextrauma.org/glossary/tonic-immobility/
• Apparent death – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_death

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Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology, neurology, and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in these articles is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also, please read our SCARS Institute Statement About Professional Care for Scam Victims – here

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.

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