In identifying subtle signs of trauma, what specific type of non-verbal communication might indicate a freeze response during a conversation?

In identifying subtle signs of trauma, the specific type of non-verbal communication that might indicate a freeze response during a conversation is characterized by profound immobility, accompanied by a fixed or disengaged gaze and diminished facial expressiveness. Non-verbal communication refers to the transmission of messages or signals through non-linguistic means, including body language, facial expressions, and eye contact. A freeze response is a fundamental physiological and psychological defense mechanism where an individual's nervous system responds to an overwhelming perceived threat by becoming still and unresponsive, akin to "playing dead," to avoid detection or minimize harm. During a conversation, this manifests non-verbally as a sudden, uncharacteristic cessation of natural body movements, gestures, and shifts in posture that typically accompany verbal interaction; the person's body may appear unusually rigid, stiff, or "petrified" in place, contrasting sharply with their usual relaxed or active conversational demeanor, indicating a physiological bracing or shutdown. Simultaneously, the individual's eyes might display a "thousand-yard stare," where their gaze appears wide, unfocused, and directed blankly into space, signaling a mental withdrawal or dissociation from the present reality of the conversation, or their eyes might be rigidly fixated on a specific, non-relevant point, or they might completely avoid eye contact by looking down or away, indicating an internal focus and disengagement from the conversational partner. Furthermore, a marked reduction or complete absence of typical facial movements, micro-expressions, and emotional displays that normally reflect engagement or reaction to the conversation is observed, with the face often appearing "flat," "blank," or "neutral," even when the conversational content would ordinarily elicit a visible emotional response, suggesting a shutdown of outward emotional processing and responsiveness.