Emotional Response Strategies
Forrest explores the complexities of emotional responses, particularly the freeze response, and the challenges of shifting to more adaptive behaviors. Rick introduces the concept of harm reduction, emphasizing the importance of gradually moving from maladaptive reactions to healthier ones. The discussion highlights the goal of reducing distress and improving functioning through small, manageable changes.In this clip
From this podcast

Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson
Managing the Freeze Response: Dissociation, Emotional Shutdown, and Creating Safety | Being Well
Related Questions
I have a question about this episode The Balance of Happiness and Meaning W/ Chris Williamson #368 and this Embracing Discomfort. If the goal is to diminish the physiological response, then if a person works to change their physiological response immediately after being triggered, would that over time also diminish the physiological response and therefore break the conditioning? Am I right? For example, if a person had a traumatic experience with a spider, but every time they see the spider or get activated through some trigger, and immediately after use breathwork to calm the body, would that work like retelling a narrative to extinguish the fear? Did I miss something?
I have a question about this episode How to Achieve Optimal Rest and Recovery | Dr. Kirk Parsley and this Decreasing Amygdala Tone. The whole point of that is to diminish the physiological response, right? If the goal is to diminish the physiological response, then if the person works to change their physiological response immediately after being triggered, would that over time also diminish the physiological response and therefore break the conditioning? Am I right? For example, if a person had a traumatic experience with a spider, but every time the person sees the spider or gets activated through some trigger, and immediately after uses breathwork to calm the body, would that work like retelling a narrative to extinguish the fear? Did I miss something?
I have a question about the episode Tools for Overcoming Substance & Behavioral Addictions | Ryan Soave and the clip Tolerating Discomfort. If the goal is to diminish the physiological response, would working to change a person's physiological response immediately after being triggered also diminish the response over time and therefore break the conditioning? Am I right? For example, if a person had a traumatic experience with a spider and every time they see the spider or get activated through a trigger, they use breathwork to calm the body immediately after being triggered, would that work like retelling a narrative to extinguish the fear? Did I miss something?