THE OTHER IN ME!

It is one thing to process unpleasant memories, but it is an entirely different matter to confront the inner void. 

Carl Jung the Swiss psychologist believed that the human psyche is a self-regulating system that maintains its equilibrium just as the body does. He declared "the components of the psyche have contradictory behaviors and the reconciliation of these opposites is a major problem, thus, the adversary in me is none other than the other in me!"

Scientists agree that each individual has a system of inner parts or several selves with different levels of maturity, excitability, wisdom and pain. According to modern neuroscience mind can be looked at as a society and self is not necessarily a unified being. Michael Gazzaniga who pioneered Split Brain research and wrote the book "Social Brain" has said "there may exist within us several realms of consciousness and there are literally several selves that do not converse with each other internally."

The MIT scientist Marvin Minsky a pioneer of artificial intelligence (AI) declared "it makes sense to think there exists inside your brain a society of different minds like members of a family. Therapists who are trained to see people as complex human beings can help them explore their system of inner parts and take care of the wounded facets of themselves."

Richard Schwartz the developer of internal family systems therapy (IFS) said "the parts or selves have their own history, abilities, needs and world views but the psychological trauma in life can hijack them out of their natural state."

Based on the available literature any psychological trauma can lead to humiliation which, in turn, results in the development of defensive habits and negative behaviors. The defensive habits range from being furious to seeking power, panic attacks, repression, obsession, compulsion and self-destructive actions which will be exhibited by the parts in us. The behaviors will continue until we go through a healing process in relation to the traumas we have endured which should help us feel safe and integrated again. In the meantime, the price we pay is absence of a loving relationship with ourselves.

To identify and revisit the parts of ourselves that are engaged in defensive habits we need to get help from professional therapists. We also need to understand that the parts in us are stuck with burdens of the past memories and they need help with the whole process of addressing the underlying issues. The role of the therapist is collaborative and is to make sure that all parts are welcome no matter how destructive they may be.

The scientists have also concluded that a mindful self-leadership is the foundation for healing because mindfulness increases the activation of the medial prefrontal cortex or the rational brain which has control over our emotions and impulses. In other words, in trauma the balance between the rational and emotional brain is disturbed and mindfulness decreases the activation of Amygdala or the emotional brain by increasing the activation of rational brain.

In IFS model the therapist encourages the clients to identify the parts in themselves and to unblend them from the self. These cycles will come to an end when the self takes charge and starts to own her/his impulses. That is when the system feels safe again. 

#Defensivehabits

 

 

PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA IS NOT JUST AN EVENT!

A BOOK IN BRIEF

(PLEASE READ AND SHARE!)

According to experts one does not have to be a combat soldier, or visit a refugee camp to encounter trauma. Research reports indicate the following:

• One in five people are sexually molested as a child - three million/year
• One in four children are beaten by a parent
• One in three couples engages in physical violence
• A quarter of people grow up with alcoholic relatives
• One in eight witness their mother being beaten
• 29.2% of the total risk of depression at age of eighteen could be explained by bullying during adolescence
• Etc.

All of the above are traumas and leave traces but we act as if nothing happened and move on. We try to leave trauma behind but our bodies keep us trapped in the past with wordless emotions and feelings. The resulting derailment have a profound impact on the capacity for love and work. Trauma makes it difficult to have intimate relationship and one cannot even trust oneself. It takes tremendous energy to keep functioning while carrying the memory of terror, and the shame of utter weakness and vulnerability.

The Impacts of Trauma

Trauma changes perceptions, imagination and the capacity to think. The body has to learn that the danger has passed and to live in the reality of present. Brain has physiological basis and is not very good at denial. Long after trauma, it may be reactivated at the slightest hint of danger and mobilize disturbed brain circuits and secrete massive amount of stress hormones. According to scanner the physiological and other changes in the brain are as follows:

• After trauma the whole world is experienced with a different nervous system
• The limbic or emotional brain through its Amygdala or smoke detector warns us of impending danger to activate body's stress response.  Activation of this fear center triggers the cascade of stress hormone and nerve impulses that drive up blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen intake preparing the body for fight or flight
• The visual cortex that registers images becomes very active
• There will be a decrease of activity in the left frontal lobe of the cortex in Broco's area or the speech center and the victim cannot put their thoughts into words - the same as the effects in stroke patients
• Mirror neurons which explain empathy, imitation, synchrony and development of language are affected and trauma almost invariably involves not being seen, not being mirrored, and not being taken into account. 

The Aspects of Treatment

• Being able to feel safe with other people is the most important aspect of mental health of trauma victims
• Social support is the most powerful protection which means being heard and seen by others
• Treatment should reactivate the capacity to safely mirror and be mirrored by others and resist being hijacked by negative emotions
• Many of the victims are either hyper-vigilant or numb. In order to feel emotionally close to another human being, their defensive system must temporarily shut down. They cannot discern when they are actually safe. They should have experiences that can restore the sense of physical safety
• The memory of trauma is encoded in the body and body keeps the score

People with extreme trauma disconnect from their body and have no self-sensing. Trauma can shut down the inner compass and the imagination they need. There is an inner cry from the body and they are not able to discern what they feel and how to take care of themselves/Alexithymia. They crave touch while terrified of body contact. The body needs to be re-educated. If they are not taken care of it can lead to depersonalization.

***

Reference: Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D. THE BODY KEEPS THE SCORE 

                  Penguin Group, 2014

I personally recommend this book to every parent and anyone concerned about well-being of children and others. The book helps us understand how people deal with, survive, and heal from traumatic experiences. It is not as easy as you may think!