OpenHealth Q&A

Unexplained Freezing Episodes: Seeking Insight

Hi there! I’m a 30-year-old woman, standing at 5 feet 4 inches and weighing 108 pounds. For the past few years, I’ve experienced sudden episodes of fear, but it’s become notably more frequent over the last month or two. Friends and family have pointed out that I sometimes freeze, displaying a terrified or distressed look, yet I have no recollection of these events afterward and simply continue on as though nothing occurred. What could be the underlying issue? I appreciate your patience with my lengthy message! These fear episodes first began a few years back. I recall a moment when my family mentioned I hadn’t had my blood tested, prompting a visit to our family physician for a blood draw. After the nurse finished the procedure, she rushed to get me a drink—either milk or juice, I can’t quite remember. Initially, my mom and I were grateful for her kindness until the nurse observed how pale I looked, prompting my mom and I to realize something was off. Later that day, I developed a fever, which eventually subsided, but since that incident, I’ve been experiencing these fearful moments. Typically, these freezing episodes last under a minute. I’ve somewhat acclimated to them, allowing me to push through daily activities. For example, I can generally keep driving or engage in routine tasks. However, when I’m playing video games and one of these episodes strikes, I often can’t remember the controls, even though I know it’s just a transient fear response. It’s bewildering; I might be aware of the fear, yet my mind goes blank regarding the game. During these times, I frequently experience goosebumps. If someone is nearby, I’ll often ask them to feel my pulse, and they usually notice that my heart rate has increased. To complicate matters, my blood sample ended up being deemed unusable, so we never received any test results. Early on, my family was understandably worried about these incidents and took me to the emergency room. However, the ER staff assessed me and said I was fine, without addressing any issues related to blood samples. I returned home with no additional answers. At one point, I learned that Ashwagandha and magnesium supplements might support those dealing with panic attacks or anxiety. I began taking magnesium daily and opted for Ashwagandha on mornings when I didn’t have time for breakfast. Interestingly, these supplements seemed to lessen my fear episodes for a while, although I noticed that their frequency increased during my menstrual periods. Recently, though, I’ve found myself freezing again, sporting a frightened or distressed expression. Others around me have noticed these spells and bring them up after they occur, but I have no memory of the experiences. I’ve asked them to pinch or lightly hit me when they see me frozen, and they’ve confirmed they do so, yet I remain unaware of those moments. I plan to seek out a new physician soon. My current family doctor has a notably low rating of 1.4 stars on Yelp and 1.5 stars on Google, while the ER I visited has a mediocre 2.0-star rating. I'm eager to find a more suitable doctor. If anyone has experienced something similar or knows a good recommendation, it would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, I’d like to clarify a common misconception: when I share my story, some people jump to the conclusion that I have a fear of blood. That’s not the case. These moments can happen completely independent of blood, and I usually do not experience general anxiety or fear regarding anything else.

Answers (1)

8/25/2025, 4:02:15 AM

OpenHealth AI

It sounds like you are experiencing distressing episodes that involve sudden feelings of fear and freezing, which can be confusing and concerning. Let’s break down what might be happening and focus on actionable steps you can take.

Main Points:

1. Symptoms Suggest Possible Episodes of Dissociation or Panic: Your experiences could be related to conditions like panic attacks, dissociative episodes, or even a possible neurological concern.
2. Hormonal Influence Noted: You mentioned that episodes increased around your menstrual period, indicating a potential hormonal link.
3. Next Steps Involve Seeking a New Healthcare Provider: Ultimately, a thorough medical evaluation is needed to explore these episodes further.

Explanation:

The freezing episodes you describe might be associated with acute anxiety or panic attacks, where the body responds to perceived threats with a fight-or-flight response, and in some instances, a freezing response. This can sometimes lead to temporary disconnection from reality or a blanking out of memory for the episode. The increase in symptoms around your menstrual cycle could be influenced by hormonal fluctuations.

The lack of recollection during these spells suggests that they may not be typical panic attacks as you are aware of the fear but not of your reaction. The increased pulse and feeling of freezing also align with the body's acute stress response.

Prioritized Next Steps:

1. Document Episodes: Start keeping a detailed journal of your episodes, noting when they happen, their duration, any triggers, and your cycle phases. This information will be critical when you find a new healthcare provider.

2. Seek a New Healthcare Provider: It’s great that you plan to find a new physician who can offer you better care. A healthcare provider with experience in neurology, psychiatry, or holistic health may be particularly useful in evaluating your symptoms.

3. Consider Lifestyle Adjustments: Continue with your magnesium and Ashwagandha as they seem to have helped, but monitor your reactions. Regular sleep, hydration, and stress management techniques such as mindfulness or gentle exercise may also help reduce the frequency of episodes.

4. Avoid Self-Diagnosis or Assumptions: While seeking answers, remember that self-diagnosing can lead to unnecessary worry. Focus discussions on your symptoms without jumping to conclusions about specific conditions.

5. Emergencies: If you ever experience extreme symptoms, such as prolonged freezing or any physical distress like chest pain, seek immediate medical care.

Let me know if you have further questions or need support as you navigate these experiences!