Cognitive Tightness & Compressed Thinking
Learn why thinking feels rigid and compressed.
The Stillness That Feels Tight
The mind becomes still, but the stillness carries tension.
Nothing moves, yet nothing rests.
Thoughts are quiet, though pressure remains underneath, like a surface frozen without softening.
This moment does not try to thaw or deepen the stillness.
It simply notices that stillness can feel tight, allowing that distinction to exist without judgment or correction.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is it normal for "being still" to feel uncomfortable and tight?
Yes. This is Stillness That Feels Tight. In this model, you are differentiating "stillness" (the absence of movement) from "ease" (the absence of tension). Your Status & Control system can force the body to be still while the Threat system remains "braced." Naming this tightness helps you realize you aren't "bad at relaxing"; you are currently practicing "high-load stillness."
How do I turn "tight stillness" into "ease"?
You don't "force" the ease. You acknowledge the tightness as a "Protective Brace." By witnessing the tightness rather than fighting it, you provide a "safety signal" to the integrator. Ease is a "bottom-up" result of feeling secure, not a "top-down" command. As you remain still and nothing bad happens, the system will eventually "down-regulate" the brace on its own timeline.