Frozen by Fear: A Personal Look at Anxiety Paralysis

Anxiety Paralysis: Understanding the Silent Struggle

Not many people have heard of anxiety paralysis. Yet, it affects many people living with trauma, autism, ADHD, or anxiety disorders.

Anxiety paralysis does not always need a clear trigger. Sometimes it is prompted by an event, other times it appears without warning. It can last for hours or even days. During these times, a person may feel shortness of breath, a tight chest, overwhelming emotions, and an inability to focus on even the things that matter most.

It Is Not Laziness – It Is Survival

From the outside, anxiety paralysis can look like procrastination or a lack of motivation. The truth is very different. When the mind is struggling to regulate itself, focusing can feel like climbing a mountain with no end in sight.

Doing something that appears “mindless,” like scrolling through social media, playing a game, or watching videos, is not avoidance. It is a way to soothe an overloaded brain and regain a sense of functionality, even if just for a little while.

Why Criticism Makes It Worse

When loved ones respond with advice or frustration, or say things like “You don’t care enough about your dreams,” it can make the situation much heavier. The internal noise is already deafening, and explaining what is happening can feel impossible. When asked, “Are you okay?” it may feel easier to simply say, “I’m fine,” even when the answer is no.

The Darkest Times

In these moments of exhaustion and overwhelm, the darkest thoughts can become louder. For some, suicidal thoughts are not a desire to die, but a desperate wish for the pain and noise to stop.

It is not attention-seeking or weakness. It is a reflection of just how overwhelming and isolating anxiety paralysis can be.

What Loved Ones Need Most

People struggling with anxiety paralysis do not need lectures or tough love. They need reassurance.

They need to hear that they are valued, that they are doing their best, and that they are loved. Sometimes a hug, if comforting, is enough.

These small acts can quiet the critical, destructive voice in their head and help them hold on.

If someone in your life struggles like this, remind them:

• They are enough

• They are doing better than they realise

• You are proud of them, even when they cannot express it

  
  

Your words, patience, and compassion may be the lifeline that helps them navigate their silent struggle.

Shane

Parent Advocate