17/04/2026
We see the quiet child in the back of the classroom or the teenager who sleeps all day, and we often label it: lazy, defiant, or ‘easy.’
But science tells a different story. The Dorsal Vagal Shutdown is not a choice. It is the nervous system’s desperate attempt to survive emotional overwhelm.
When a child freezes, they aren’t trying to be difficult. They are experiencing a threat response so powerful that their body has ‘pulled the plug.’
As parents and educators, our job isn’t to demand they ‘snap out of it.’ Our job is to create an environment safe enough for their system to slowly come back online.
I dedicate an entire section of ‘When Unicorns Don’t Fly’ (The Guidebook) to understanding and supporting a child in shutdown.
Save this post for the next time you see a child check out. 🖤
[ FreezeResponse ThePolyvagalTheory MentalHealthInSchools ]
