'Functional Freeze' Identified as Hidden Culprit Behind Fatigue in High-Performers

A growing number of people are identifying with a phenomenon called “functional freeze”—a stress-induced state that can leave even the most productive individuals feeling paralyzed and unable to function at home after a busy day.

According to Liz Tenuto, a psychology-trained somatic movement coach known online as “The Workout Witch,” functional freeze occurs when a person continues to perform well in daily tasks but crashes once their responsibilities are over.

Woman resting on bed | Source: Pexels

“Functional freeze is this interesting place that I feel like a lot of women exist and live in quite regularly,” Tenuto told CNBC Make It. “Then when they get home and when they finish everything, they just completely crash out and have a hard time getting out of bed.”

Tenuto, who has studied the effects of stress and trauma on the body, describes functional freeze as a mind-body response to being overwhelmed. Signs may include emotional numbness, dissociation, excessive social media use, sleep problems, and unexplained physical discomfort. “Essentially conserving as much energy as possible before you start tomorrow,” she explains.

Tired woman resting on bed | Source: Pexels

To help clients recover from this state—also referred to as “thawing”—Tenuto emphasizes movement, particularly somatic exercises. These gentle, mindful movements, such as ear pulls, slow head turns, and side rocking, are designed to stimulate the nervous system without overwhelming it. “Somatic exercises really help get you out of fight, flight or freeze,” she notes.