One morning, you turn on the news: forests are burning, there’s been an explosion in the city, people are angry in the streets. As the images reflect on the screen, you forget to sip your tea. A sense of stillness, a frozen feeling begins to form inside your body. Your breath becomes shallow, your gaze fixed on a corner of the screen. As the world burns outside, something freezes inside.
This is not merely apathy. It’s an ancient defense mechanism developed by the body and mind in response to overwhelming stimulation: the freeze response. When the brain perceives a threat to life, it activates a third path in addition to the well-known fight-or-flight response: freezing, numbing, disconnecting. This is neither weakness nor indifference. On the contrary, it is the nervous system’s way of staying upright without collapsing under excessive load (Van der Kolk, 2014). That numbness many of us feel while watching disaster unfold is actually a protective response developed by the brain in the face of overstimulation.
Layers of Trauma: Personal or Collective?
Trauma is not merely a personal matter.
We often associate trauma with individual experiences: an accident, a loss, neglect. But some traumas grow quietly in collective spaces. Exposure to violence, uncertainty, and chaos on a societal level can leave lasting imprints on a person’s body and mind. Especially in the face of recurring crises — wildfires, economic collapses, social injustice — a “constant state of alert” forms within.
In psychological literature, this is called collective trauma or secondary traumatization (Hirschberger, 2018). These forms of trauma are invisible yet impactful; because everyone is affected at the same time, but few can express it. Even when individuals are not directly confronted by these events, collective traumas echo within their internal world. Because we are not only individuals — we are carriers of a society, a culture, a shared memory.
Crises on a societal level can leave deep scars on an individual level. These scars are not just mental; they are felt physically, emotionally, and behaviorally. Often, they appear through questions like:
“Why am I so tired?”
“Why can’t I focus on anything?”
“Why do I constantly feel on edge?”
Mind-Body Connection: How the Perception of Danger Affects the Body
Chronic stress disrupts the body’s biological functioning. When the brain remains in a constant state of alarm, cortisol production increases; over time, this weakens the immune system, disrupts sleep, and impacts digestion. Moreover, the body often expresses what words cannot. Trauma does not only “stay in the mind,” it is etched into the body as well (Scaer, 2007).
That’s why some people experience fatigue, stomach problems, muscle pain, or difficulty concentrating during periods of crisis. These symptoms are not just physical; they are the bodily expressions of emotional burdens.
Collective Grief and Emotional Disconnection
As a society, mourning is not just about crying after a loss. Grief is the process of working through hard-to-define emotions. In collective traumas, this process is often left incomplete. While trying to come to terms with the reality of what has happened, we are simultaneously pressured to return to daily life.
This “emotional disconnection” can lead individuals to suppress their emotions, causing a deep sense of inner loneliness. Yet a healthy grieving process involves making contact with one’s emotions and expressing them (Neimeyer, 2000).
“I’m Constantly on Edge”: Living with Uncertainty
In times of political and social instability, the sense of basic safety is shaken. Economic crises, loss of trust in justice systems, environmental destruction — all raise the same question in the mind:
“What will happen tomorrow?”
This chronic state of uncertainty affects not just the present, but also one’s ability to dream about the future. Making plans becomes difficult, motivation to make decisions diminishes. In the long run, this can lead to depressive symptoms, anxiety disorders, or social withdrawal.
What Can We Do? Creating Space for Movement in Stillness
While it may seem that individuals have limited power in the face of collective trauma, it is possible to strengthen psychological resilience and support healing. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Recognize the Freeze State
If you find yourself feeling numb, empty, disconnected, or unable to concentrate, this is not just a “mood” — it is a meaningful response from your system. Not judging this state and becoming aware of it is the first step.
2. Allow Emotions to Arise
Anger, sadness, hopelessness, guilt… All are natural responses to societal crises. Making room for these emotions allows you to recognize them — rather than letting them take over.
3. Make Micro-Connections
Support doesn’t always come through big conversations. Sitting quietly next to someone, having a coffee together, feeling another’s presence — these are also forms of solidarity.
4. Create Safe Spaces and Moments
Identify small routines in daily life that help you feel safe and calm your senses. This could be a cup of tea, a warm shower, or journaling.
5. Express Through Creativity
Writing, drawing, music, storytelling — expressing emotions symbolically rather than directly can also be healing. Many trauma-informed approaches emphasize the transformative power of symbolic expression.
6. Engage with Information, Not Overexposure
Being uninformed is harmful, but so is constant exposure to news. Limiting news consumption and seeking information from reliable sources can help ease the mental burden.