Interesting point about freezing.
I think in my case it's a postponing of anger. I realized in the moment I was irritated w/my co-worker's comments, I asserted myself once w/clarification, but that was rebuffed. And given the challenge I sometimes experience w/emotional regulation w/my cptsd, i am scared to feel something to "big" and react in a problematic way at work, so I decided to go medium chill, ignore, and decide later how or if a response was needed. Fortunately my boss is aware of this person's problematic behavior so I can touch base w/him soon (he was sick so not available like usual...) and decide how to respond in the future.
I know what you mean about noticing and trusting your gut, my "gut" definitely felt attacked. But I've also noticed that sometimes I take offense to someone simply being direct, asking a question stating a "fact" from their perspective for example, and I personalize and assume they're indicating I did something wrong when that's not the case. It's just a question or a statement. I still need to clarify or be assertive, in return, but I don't necessarily need to feel hurt or angry.
I think the assuming the worst comes from my bad marriage and hush hush rules of my childhood where direct was often "offensive."