01/04/2026
Understanding how emotional shock affects us is very valuable. It is a reaction to an unexpected event or traumatic incident that upsets us and makes it hard for us to function.
When faced with an intense stressor, we often experience a rush of overwhelming emotions that we are not ready to understand or respond to. This can cause our body to go into a state of shock.
Emotional shock is often part of the fight or flight response - a normal but painful way our brain reacts to something it sees as a threat to our well-being. When our brain is unable to process a situation, it freezes in an effort to protect our mind and body.
We all experience events differently and symptoms show up differently too. These include numbness, disassociation, tearfulness, anger, breathlessness, nausea, denial, panic, inability to express emotions and muscle tension.
How can we help ourselves if we experience this? Most important is to restore a sense of safety and comfort for ourselves. This helps our nervous system to regulate itself and we gradually start to feel calmer. This could take minutes, hours or days.
This involves being around supportive people and making ourselves comfortable in a safe environment. It's good to take the pressure off and allow our brain and body the space and time it needs to process and recover.
If you'd like to talk about this, I'm happy to give you the space and time you need. Sharing helps to ease the distress and confusion you feel.
Anna.
Anna Laslett-Borja
Integrative Counsellor MBACP (Accred), Clinical Supervisor
ALB Counselling | Faversham, Kent | Online
07835 938042
www.albcounselling.com
albcounselling@gmail.com
