Does this include freezing? I have just had a huge insight into my particular kind of freezing attacks. Yes, they are stress induced based on my recent experience with former employer. Yet, it goes deeper than that back to my childhood. Let's just say that the Brothers Grimm had it right...there are wicked stepmothers.

Interestingly, my work experience mirrors a childhood relationship dynamic established when my father remarried. My stepmother and her daughter were abusive and my father did nothing to intervene or support me. This can be directly overlaid on main players in my school district who conspired to see me resign. The situation left me feeling vulnerable and helpless like a child all over again, and I put my trust in people who were supposed to help me (lawyer, union pres, and former colleagues) Instead, they either did nothing or not enough or turned blind eye toward. Without going into details, I was a victim of abuse by my stepsister and I was told by my stepmother that if I were to tell my mother or anyone what had happened that she would turn story around so I was the abuser.

Given all this I can easily see now why I have a hyper alert dysfunctional limbic system, why I suppress my emotions, and why I am having a particularly acute stress response originating with losing my job. Does this sound like it could be a PTSD type response? I will see psychiatrist for re-evaluation on January 5th. I am thinking I may need more than Cognitive Behavioral Therapy...also am wondering how much of my freezing is all in my mind.

Apologies for being so personal, but I just want to show how PD is indeed stress related. Maybe some day, researchers will catch on.

Laura