"I Know What I Want to Do: Why Can't I Do It?"

"A) The fight-or-flight response is an overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and generates feelings of fear or anger, and behavioral reactions of escape or aggression. It's like hitting the gas pedal on your nervous system. B) In contrast, the overactivation of its lesser-known counterpart, called the parasympathetic nervous system, results in the freeze response, which is akin to pulling the emergency brake. Classic symptoms include difficulty speaking or perhaps even moving-a phenomenon known as "tonic immobility.""

"After college, I moved to D.C. andgot an apartment adjacent to the Washington National Cathedral. Many nights, I rode the elevator to the roof and marveled at the graceful colossus, lit from within, which wouldn't exist without the extensive scaffolding that allowed hundreds of skilled workers to reach higher and higher. In the same way, when embarking on an endeavor, engaging support doesn't make you weak-it makes you realistic."

"You wouldn't hammer a nail with a spatula any more than you'd whip up cake batter with a screwdriver. By the same token, don't seek out a friend who's a die-hard problem-solver when you ache for a listening ear. Identify the type of support you need, then match it to the person who's best suited to provide it. Ask yourself: Do I need..."

Inaction can arise from the freeze response, a parasympathetic overactivation that produces immobility, difficulty speaking, and tonic immobility. The freeze response is distinct from fight-or-flight, which activates the sympathetic nervous system and produces escape or aggression. Engaging external supports provides scaffolding that enables higher achievement and realistic progress. Effective support requires matching the support type to the need: instrumental help for tasks, emotional listening for processing feelings, and problem-solving for action planning. Selecting a friend or resource who offers the needed support style increases the likelihood of follow-through. Assessing physiological reactions and tailoring supports improves change initiation.

Read at Psychology Today