Day 128 of 365 - Mind, Body, Emotions - Part 2

When we are in a state of homeostasis or balance, we can access the cortex of the brain for interpretation.  When we feel threatened we tend to be more reactive and are less likely to engage the higher brain.  For example, if we feel safe, we will use facial expression and voice to interact with others and navigate our environment in an intentional way.  If we feel threatened, the more subconscious and involuntary reactions of fight/flight or shutdown may occur.  Then we may misinterpret social cues and feel less trusting of interactions.

That prefrontal cortex integrates the input from the other parts of the brain.  When the functions of all the parts are well integrated we are in a state of well being.  When we are primarily reactive, those connections are not integrated.  An integrated brain is a healthier brain.  Learning skills of attending to our bodily cues and underlying feelings, helps us be more responsive than reactive and strengthens the integration of our brain function.

Let's look at a simplified example to tie all this together.  Going back to the Adverse Childhood Experiences research is helpful here.  Research shows that there is a cumulative effect in outcomes of physical health, mental health, education and vocation.  That is to say, the more exposure you had in childhood (up to the age of 18) either to direct or indirect abuse, neglect or family/household challenges, the more likely you are to be at risk.

Those experiences disrupt neuro-development and the integration of those different levels of the brain.  There are impacts on our social, emotional and cognitive development.  As part of our protective, reactive responses, we may engage in behaviors which put us at more risk both mentally and physically, and more likely to suffer from disease or disability in adult life.

To simplify more, for example, a child has multiple and frequent threatening experiences.  They are primarily felt in the lower part of the body, in the gut.  The child may respond to this distress with digestive issues.  As an adult they continue to respond to stressful situations with an upset stomach or bowel.  Likewise, a child who regularly felt emotionally threatened by an angry tone of voice may grow into a vigilant adult who is always avoiding angering others as a protective response.  This could inhibit integration of that social interaction pathway and lead to misinterpretation of cues in adult relationships.

We develop automatic, involuntary physical and emotional responses to our experiences, starting in childhood.  At the same time our nervous system development is maturing and our patterns of self-regulation are developing.  It makes sense that early disruptions can impact our functional abilities as adults.  However, it's not all gloom and doom.  Human beings are adaptive and resilient.  After all, we are still here.

Thanks to having all those parts to our brain and nervous system, with the implementation of more protective factors in our lives we can learn to better self-regulate and integrate our brain.  In addition to  having support to, or, placing ourselves in more protective and safe environments as adults, in a concrete way, we can learn more about the nuances of body cues and ways of interacting with others.

Having supportive and nurturing relationships in the form of educators, mentors, family, friends, and therapists can go a long way in fostering the adaptability which is inherent in our makeup as modern day human beings.  When we realize that initial, involuntary bodily sensation is reflexive and based on an older pattern of response, we can become less of a victim to it and see ourselves more as survivors who have adapted. We are amazing!

 In the next post, we'll look at how we can access the body's wisdom through a focusing technique.