Trauma-induced paralysis, also known as tonic immobility, can strike a person when they encounter a situation that triggers fear in them. It causes the person to be unable to move or speak, in effect freezing in place as if paralyzed.
Someone who experiences trauma-induced paralysis may not understand what’s happening to them or that professional help is available. Montare Tucson offers structured care as part of our Trauma Program in a homelike setting that allows people to feel safe as they work on healing. Moreover, we understand trauma’s impact on a person, whether it happened recently or as far back as their childhood. To address this, our skilled staff of compassionate therapists meets people where they are and helps them complete trauma-based therapy programs that relieve their symptoms.
When someone encounters a terrifying situation, they typically have one of three responses: fight, flight, or freeze. Even if someone freezes temporarily, they often find the ability to run or fight back. However, some people react with what’s called trauma-induced paralysis. This means the person feels paralyzed physically and unable to move or speak. Their reaction begins with freezing, but then they feel unable to move or talk at all.
When someone experiences trauma-induced paralysis, certain symptoms occur. They include:
Trauma-induced paralysis is one of a variety of reactions that can happen when a person is introduced to a scary or potentially traumatizing event. The five reactions include:
Importantly, a person does not have conscious control over which reaction happens. For example, telling themselves to run instead of freezing up does not help because the body and mind often choose the reaction without the person being able to control it.
People who have gone through trauma respond well to certain kinds of therapy. Before beginning treatment, the individual should first visit their doctor to rule out any medical causes for their paralysis. Therapy to treat PTSD and complex trauma focuses on resolving past issues and learning to minimize symptoms of trauma including paralysis and others. Common therapy modalities used to treat trauma include:
A go-to choice for many therapists treating people with trauma-based disorders, CBT helps people by teaching them to understand how their emotions and thoughts influence their behaviors. When they gain some control over their initial feelings and thoughts when faced with a fearful situation, it influences them to have a healthier physical reaction.
DBT teaches people four basic tenets to help them reach their goals in mental health treatment, including healing trauma. The tenets include mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.
EMDR is highly effective in treating trauma-based illnesses. It helps people process their trauma while discussing it and following directions from the therapist to use certain hand or eye movements. Notably, several trials conducted showed that the rate of remission for PTSD after three to eight sessions of EMDR was 77% to 90%
This type of therapy guides a person through imagining being exposed to a fearful situation and then gradually exposes them to it until it no longer has power over them.
This type of therapy includes activities like yoga, music therapy, art therapy, acupuncture, and meditation. Engaging in these acts helps center a person’s emotions and allows them to express them in a healthy manner.
The above types of therapy and more can be found at structured care facilities that specialize in treating mental health disorders. This includes PTSD and trauma. In addition, the use of prescription medications can help ease the symptoms of trauma and help people focus on their therapy.
If someone has experienced trauma but has not sought help for it, they put themselves at risk for trauma-induced paralysis. However, attending therapy helps minimize the symptoms of trauma and makes it much less likely the person will end up facing paralysis caused by their trauma. Seeking more than one type of therapy at a residential or outpatient center helps both prevent and manage trauma-induced paralysis. In fact, the right treatment program can eliminate or greatly reduce the number of times a person has paralysis.
Montare Tucson is in the business of helping people overcome the damage that events like trauma cause in them. We understand that trauma-induced paralysis can happen as part of several types of symptoms of PTSD and complex trauma. As a result, our multi-disciplinary approach to treating mental health disorders teaches people to empower themselves and leave the effects trauma has on them in the past.
Contact us today for more information on ending the hold that trauma has on your life or that of someone you love. Our friendly admissions staff can answer your questions and provide a free insurance verification.
Published: 3/11/2025
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