332: Ever gone into freeze? Here’s what’s actually going on. (ft. Stacy Matulis)

332: Ever gone into freeze? Here’s what’s actually going on. (ft. Stacy Matulis)

Author: Melanie Curtin October 25, 2024 Duration: 1:16:27

If you've ever felt anxious around a woman you were attracted to, gone rigid when you tried to flirt, or completely shut down during a fight with your partner, you know what it is to go into freeze.

When we're overwhelmed, we can lock up. This is inconvenient if what you really want to do in that moment is to move, get someone's number, or speak up for yourself during a moment of tension with your spouse or in a meeting at work.

Where does this behavior come from? Why did it develop? What do we do about it that actually works?

Here, somatic practitioner and expert Stacy Matulis breaks down what's actually going on in your nervous system when you freeze, and what to do about it. (Hint: No one is an island, and we need others. We are interdependent.)

We also cover the difference between freeze and disassociation, depression and suicidality, and why it can feel like even after years of doing the work, you're still stuck in some ways.

Going into a freeze state will absolutely impact your sex, dating and relationship life. Fortunately, there's a way through.

---

Work with us

Want to go deeper than the podcast? Jason and I are ready to work with you! We specialize in helping men break old patterns and transform their sex & love lives for good.

To see if there's a fit for our flagship program Pillars of Presence, book a call here. Start anytime. (https://evolutionary.men/apply/)

---

Mentioned on this episode:

  • DM 196: The “invisible” relationship pattern that can affect everything (childhood neglect)

---

Memorable quotes from this episode:

  • “I felt neutered as a human.”
  • “When we grew up without safe others, we can learn that there are no safe others.”
  • “What would bring me into a life that I wanted to live?”
  • “Attunement is just as much an essential need as food and shelter is.”
  • “Your feelings and needs are all right with me.”
  • “A traumatized brain is programmed to look for the problem, and stay focused on the difficult energy.”
  • “Who I am makes love go away.”

Melanie Curtin hosts Dear Men: How to Rock Sex, Dating, and Relationships With Women, a space where curiosity meets practical change. This isn't about memorizing pick-up lines or playing games; it's built on the idea that genuine personal growth is the most attractive quality a man can develop. The conversations here move beyond surface-level tips to explore the deeper dynamics of connection, drawing from insights across health, culture, and psychology. You'll hear from women who offer a candid look into what fosters real attraction and lasting partnership, providing a valuable perspective often missing from mainstream advice. Each episode tackles the honest questions and challenges men face, whether navigating early dating, deepening intimacy, or building a resilient marriage. The focus is always on actionable understanding-how to listen, communicate, and show up in ways that are both authentic and effective. Tune in for a podcast that respects your intelligence and meets you where you are, offering a blend of straightforward talk and nuanced discussion that can reshape how you approach every aspect of your life with women. It's for any man ready to move past confusion and toward more meaningful, fulfilling connections.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Dear Men: How to Rock Sex, Dating, and Relationships With Women
Podcast Episodes
369: GuyTalk: Setting healthy boundaries with parents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:57
Did you have healthy boundaries modeled for you when you were growing up? Do you feel like you know how to set healthy boundaries with your folks?If not, then some of these things may apply:You felt like (or continue to…
368: Can a live retreat change everything? (ft. Jason Lange) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:08
When Jason was in his mid-20s, he was stuck. He numbed out with porn much of the time, had never had sex, and struggled with dating and love relationship.Even outside of dating, it felt like something was missing in his…
366: Love can, in fact, be calculated. (ft. Zoey Charif) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:05
Have you ever wished you could scientifically determine what’s wrong in your relationship? Or felt it would be helpful to somehow mathematically see how compatible you are with someone you’re dating? Or gone through a di…
362: From skeptic to believer (ft. Naushad Godrej) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:06
Have you ever doubted? Whether you've doubted yourself, the existence of a higher power, the efficacy of "alternative" healing techniques, or anything that goes against the mainstream -- this has likely come up for you a…
361: Worried about being a late bloomer? (ft. Jason Lange) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:26
Are you concerned about your lack of experience, whether that's sexually, in a dating context, or time in long-term relationships? Maybe you feel behind in some way, and hesitant or fearful about telling a woman about yo…
360: GirlTalk: Striking while the iron is hot! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:32:22
Want to be even sexier to women than you are now? ;) Learn to strike while the iron is hot!Seriously though -- striking while the iron is hot makes you a man who can generate polarity, build trust, and have women want to…