Credits: Social Media
Neuroscientist explains how bed rotting could be a sign of your brain freezing
A neuroscientist has explained how the TikTok term bed rotting could be linked to another term called a functional freeze.
The human body is a complicated machine, and as such, there are constantly new terms and theories popping up about its many cogs and screws.�
The two terms could be linked
Carrick Institute graduate Dr Pang (@dr.tpang) regularly posts health and brain-related content for his 197k followers on TikTok. In a recent video, he addressed the concept of bed rotting, and how it relates to the act of freezing under incredible stress.�
In the caption, he wrote: Share with your loved ones and follow me to learn how to regulate your nervous system. Dont blame your procrastination! You’re just stuck in freeze mode after daily living stress and your nervous system feels overwhelmed and shut down!
The reason youre bed rotting every day, wont text people back, and never want to leave your house, he explained while sitting in his bed. Is because you’re stuck in a functional freeze after living with such extreme stress that your brain feels dissociated from your body so simple tasks can feel overwhelming.
What is Bed Rotting and a Functional Freeze?
Bed Rotting is a term that has popped up on social media platforms like Instagram, largely within the Gen Z community. Linked to being burnt out, Bed Rotting is described as the act of lying in bed for extended periods of time. Usually, youre not doing very much.
Similarly, a functional freeze is outlined as a natural response similar to a deer caught in headlights. Under great amounts of stress, you stall and simply do nothing.
In a medically reviewed article on Medical News Today, it was explained that the symptoms of a functional freeze could be physical immobility, a drop in heart rate, rather than an increase, and muscle tension.
The same article suggested that creating a safe space and doing breathing work could help to calm you in the moment.�
