What Is Mood Freezing?

Have you ever wished you could just hit the "pause" button on your emotions, giving yourself a moment to catch your breath and think clearly? Welcome to the world of mood freezing—a fascinating psychological concept that allows just that. While it might sound like something out of a sci-fi novel, mood freezing is a real and practical technique that can help us navigate intense emotions and react more thoughtfully to the world around us. Whether you're dealing with a heated argument, a stressful work meeting, or just an overwhelming day, learning how to "freeze" your mood can be a game-changer.

How does mood freezing work?

“Mood freezing" is a psychological concept where an individual deliberately puts a temporary hold on their emotional responses to a situation. This doesn't mean the emotions disappear; they're simply paused or subdued to allow the person to think and act more rationally. So how does it work?

What does the research say?

The concept of ‘mood freezing’ originated from studies in emotional regulation involving an interesting approach: people were told that a pill, which was actually just a sugar pill (placebo), could “freeze” their mood and stop their emotions from changing during a task [1].

This manipulation was done to see if believing they could control their emotions would change how they actually felt.

What researchers found was revealing: When people thought that their emotions were "frozen" by the pill, their emotional reactions were very different compared to those who did not believe in this effect.

This shows that just the belief in being able to control emotions can really influence how we feel, demonstrating a powerful placebo effect in managing emotions.

What's happening Neurologically?

From a neurological perspective, mood freezing involves several key areas of the brain[2]. The primary components include:

1. Prefrontal cortex (PFC):

This part of the brain is responsible for cognitive processes like decision-making and self-control. It plays a significant role in mood freezing because it has the ability to regulate and suppress emotional responses that are initiated by other brain areas. The PFC helps us think before we react, leading to more thoughtful reactions to emotional situations.

2. Amygdala:

This brain area is important for processing our feelings, especially fear and pleasure. It's usually where our initial emotional responses occur. Mood freezing happens when the PFC steps in to calm down these initial reactions from the amygdala, which delays our emotional response.

The interaction between these brain regions allows for mood freezing to occur. By using the PFC to control or block the automatic reactions from the amygdala, people can "freeze" their emotions. This means putting emotions on a brief hold, giving the brain a chance to catch up and decide the best course of action without being swayed by strong emotions right away.

Pros of mood freezing

The ability to 'freeze' your mood and step back from immediate emotional reactions offers several advantages:

Improved decision-making:

One of the most significant benefits of mood freezing is the enhancement of decision-making abilities. When emotions run high, they can cloud judgment and lead to impulsive decisions. By freezing your mood, you give yourself the opportunity to step back and assess the situation more objectively. This can lead to more rational, thoughtful decisions, especially in high-pressure environments where clear thinking is crucial.

Enhanced emotional resilience:

Mood freezing can contribute to greater emotional resilience by allowing individuals to face stressful or negative situations without becoming overwhelmed. By managing emotional reactions, people can maintain their composure and are better equipped to handle adversity.

Better interpersonal relationships:

Emotions can escalate conflicts or cause misunderstandings in relationships. Mood freezing allows individuals to pause their emotional responses during heated moments, providing space to consider the other person’s perspective and the broader context of the interaction. This can help in responding in a way that is constructive rather than destructive, ultimately fostering healthier and more supportive relationships.

Opportunity for reflection and growth:

By freezing mood responses, individuals gain the opportunity to reflect on their emotions and the reasons behind them. This reflection can be an excellent tool for personal growth, as it encourages a deeper understanding of one's emotional triggers and behaviors.

Cons of mood freezing

While mood freezing offers numerous benefits, it is essential to recognize that excessive or inappropriate use can also present several drawbacks. Understanding these potential downsides is crucial for maintaining emotional health and ensuring that mood freezing serves as a helpful tool rather than a harmful habit:

Suppression of emotional processing:

One of the primary risks associated with mood freezing is the potential for emotional suppression. Continuously delaying emotional responses without eventually processing and addressing these emotions can lead to a build-up of unresolved feelings. Over time, this can cause emotional numbness or sudden, uncontrolled emotional outbursts when the suppressed feelings become too intense to contain any longer.

Impact on authenticity and relationships:

Regularly freezing emotions can impact theability to be authentic in interactions with others. Friends, family, and colleagues might perceive this as a lack of transparency or genuine engagement. In personal relationships, this might lead to misunderstandings or feelings of distance, as loved ones could feel that the person is emotionally unavailable.

Reduced emotional intelligence:

Emotional intelligence involves understanding, using, and managing your own emotions in positive ways to relieve stress, communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. Over-reliance on mood freezing might hinder the development of these skills, as it can reduce opportunities to practice handling emotions in real-time situations.

Ethical considerations:

There are ethical considerations when applying mood freezing in certain contexts. For instance, using mood freezing to manipulate situations or people by hiding one's true feelings can lead to unethical outcomes. This manipulation can be particularly concerning in leadership or caregiving roles where authenticity and emotional honesty are crucial.

Potential for misuse:

Mood freezing can sometimes be used as an avoidance strategy, where an individual consistently avoids facing their emotions or dealing with difficult situations. This misuse can prevent personal growth and the resolution of important personal and interpersonal issues.

Practical strategies for mood freezing

For those interested in exploring mood freezing, several practical strategies can help safely implement this technique:

Mindfulness meditation:

Practicing mindfulness meditation regularly can enhance your ability to be present and aware of your emotions without immediately reacting to them. Mindfulness helps in recognizing your emotional state and deciding consciously whether to engage with those emotions or put them on hold temporarily. This can be particularly useful in situations where immediate reactions might be detrimental.

Cognitive Behavioral Techniques (CBT):

CBT provides tools to manage your thought processes and emotional reactions. Techniques such as cognitive reframing help you change the way you perceive situations, which can alter your emotional responses. For instance, by perceiving a stressful event as a challenge rather than a threat, you can reduce immediate negative emotions and approach the situation with a more balanced mindset.

Physical exercise:

Engaging in physical activity can be an excellent way to manage and temporarily freeze emotions. Exercise releases endorphins, which can improve your mood, and provides a healthy outlet for stress and frustration. A quick walk, a session of yoga, or a workout can be great ways to take a break from emotional overload and reset your emotional state.

Setting emotional boundaries:

Learn to recognize situations that trigger intense emotional responses and set boundaries accordingly. This might mean choosing not to engage in certain discussions until you are in a better mental space or removing yourself from environments that consistently trigger negative emotions until you can handle them more effectively.

Overall, mood freezing is a potentially valuable tool when used correctly, allowing us to make more thoughtful decisions. While it offers the promise of better emotional control, it is not without its risks and ethical dilemmas. The key lies in using the techniqueconsciously to ensure that it doesn't lead to the suppression of necessary and healthy emotional expression.

By incorporating mindful practices, therapeutic techniques, and physical wellness activities, individuals can explore mood freezing as a part of a balanced approach to emotional well-being. Remember, the goal of mood freezing is not to avoid emotions but to manage them constructively.

Sources Used

Bushman, B. J., Baumeister, R. F., & Phillips, C. M. (2001). Do people aggress to improve their mood? Catharsis beliefs, affect regulation opportunity, and aggressive responding. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 81(1), 17-32. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.81.1.17

Orem, T. R., Wheelock, M. D., Goodman, A. M., Harnett, N. G., Wood, K. H., Gossett, E. W., Granger, D. A., Mrug, S., & Knight, D. C. (2019). Amygdala and prefrontal cortex activity varies with individual differences in the emotional response to psychosocial stress. Behavioral Neuroscience, 133(2), 203-211. https://doi.org/10.1037/bne0000305