A real “everything went wrong” day, the freeze state, and what reset really means
Lately, so much has been happening outside—news, updates, unexpected information, constant stimulation. It can feel as if we’re already living in the middle of 2026… even when we’re still right here in an ordinary week.
This week has been pretty calm… and also interesting.
I’m revisiting EFT training again and it’s giving me fresh insight (even after years, I’m still learning). I noticed some patterns I’m still holding on to, and we worked on a behaviour I’m ready to stop. One funny discovery: I had an old association between food and warmth (comfort = safety)… and thanks to EFT I found a gentle solution. Yay. o;)
It also reminded me of something I want to share today:
your nervous system is the foundation—and it’s not just “stressed” or “relaxed.”
Your nervous system isn’t only “on” or “off”
Most of us know these two words:
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Sympathetic = speeding up (fight/flight, urgency, pushing through)
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Parasympathetic = slowing down (rest, recovery)
But here’s the important bit:
Parasympathetic has two pathways.
So “slowing down” doesn’t always mean you’re resting.
Ventral vagal (parasympathetic + safety)
This is the state people mean when they say “rest & digest.”
You feel more present, warmer, breath is steady, digestion works, you can connect.
Dorsal vagal (parasympathetic + threat)
This is freeze / shutdown.
It can look quiet from the outside, but inside you may feel foggy, stuck, disoriented, heavy, or “I can’t.”
A simple way to remember:
Rest is parasympathetic with safety. Freeze is parasympathetic with threat.
My “everything went wrong” day
Yesterday was one of those days:
My train to London was severely delayed, I arrived late to a client (and lost some sales). I met someone unexpectedly and it felt awkward. Then I spilled water on my laptop and it shut down (still hoping it comes back to life… o;)). This morning my other computer was painfully slow and I wasn’t sure I could make my online client. I spent nearly two hours trying to find a solution… and thankfully I made it. Phew.
But the key part is this: I didn’t reset in between.
I kept going—reaction-dominant—until my nervous system did what nervous systems do when they feel overwhelmed.
It froze.
What freeze can feel like
Freeze isn’t laziness. It’s your system applying the emergency brake.
It can feel like:
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restless-but-stuck (you want to move, but can’t)
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foggy / disoriented (hard to think clearly)
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shut down (flat, numb, disconnected)
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avoidant (scrolling, procrastinating, withdrawing)
Often people say, “I’m tired,” but it’s not just tired… it’s not safe enough to mobilise.
What reset really means
A reset isn’t fixing your life.
Reset is returning to safety—so your system can regulate.
When your body feels safe enough, your breath changes, your digestion can return, your mind becomes clearer, and you can respond instead of react.
For me, the answer was sauna—warmth, quiet, a little swim, water.
My system came back online.
Reset = safety → regulation → clarity.
CIA: Calm • Integrate • Align (2 minutes)
When you notice rushing, reactivity, or freeze-fog, try:
C — Calm (60s)
Hand on heart + belly. Breathe in 4 / out 6 × 10. Soften jaw.
I — Integrate (30s)
Name it gently: “Right now I feel ___ and my body is ___.”
A — Align (30s)
Ask: “What is one kind next step?”
Water, warmth, quiet, a boundary, or support.
Small. Repeatable. Powerful.
Why we need more real rest right now
We can’t remove stress completely. Life is life. And the world is loud.
So the goal is not “no stress.”
The goal is stability and resilience—being able to return to yourself more quickly.
Many of us arrive home exhausted… and then keep stimulating the brain (screens, chats, “just one more thing”). It feels comforting, but the body doesn’t land.
True recovery is low input + low effort + safety.
Even a few minutes of real quiet can change your nervous system tone.
How I can support you
If you’ve been stuck in reaction mode or sliding into freeze, you don’t have to train this alone. In sessions, I create a steady space so your system can settle and release—without force.
I blend (tailored to you):
EFT • Reiki • Craniosacral • Massage • Facial & Foot Reflexology • Ear acupuncture/ear beads • Emotion Code
Where to see me
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Tuesdays — HomeWellness, Primrose Hill
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Saturdays — triyoga Camden
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Online — EFT • Emotion Code • Distant Reiki
If you’re not sure what to book, tell me what’s happening (sleep / anxiety / tension / digestion / overwhelm). I’ll suggest a gentle starting point.
With warmth,
Naomi
www.naomisato.co.uk