Podcast Summary
Brain integration and complex trauma: Complex trauma can disrupt the communication and alignment between the brain stem, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex, leading to protective behaviors and disrupted integration of sensory information, emotions, and cognitive functions.
Complex trauma can significantly impact the vertical integration of the brain, specifically the alignment and communication between the brain stem, limbic system, and prefrontal cortex. This misalignment can result in the brain stem and older brain areas perceiving a sense of danger, causing protective behaviors and disrupting the integration of sensory information, emotions, and cognitive functions. The amygdala in the brain stem asks if we are safe, the limbic system asks if we are loved, and the prefrontal cortex asks what we can learn. For full integration and effective communication with our environment and relationships, all three areas must work together. However, if the brain stem and older brain areas perceive danger, they may short circuit the system, leading to protective behaviors and disrupting the integration of sensory information, emotions, and cognitive functions.
Understanding the brain's protective mechanisms: The old brain's survival instincts and the limbic system's emotional responses can hijack our thinking, leading to anxiety, depression, and other symptoms. Vertical integration is crucial for managing complex trauma and attachment wounds, which require both physical and emotional safety for healing.
Our brains have built-in protective mechanisms to keep us safe, but these mechanisms can be triggered by both physical and emotional threats. The old brain, responsible for survival instincts, can cause reactions like anxiety, depression, chronic fatigue, and physical symptoms when it perceives danger. This is known as amygdala hijacking. Alternatively, the limbic system, which deals with emotions, can also take control, leading to intense emotional reactions or limbic escape. These protective mechanisms can derail vertical integration, leaving us unable to think clearly or rationally. Understanding how these responses work is crucial for managing complex trauma and attachment wounds, as both physical and emotional safety are essential for healing. At Brain Based Wellness, we help individuals develop tools to promote vertical integration by addressing cognitive beliefs, regulating emotions, and working with the body.
Healing complex trauma involves integrating body, emotions, and cognition: Effective trauma resolution requires addressing all aspects: body, emotions, and cognition, using tools like Neurosequential Modeling for regulation and narrative modification.
Effective trauma resolution requires addressing the body, emotions, and cognitive processes all at once. Trauma patterns, compensatory movements, and muscle tension in the body need to be repatterned along with the associated thoughts, beliefs, and emotions. The brain creates narratives and interpretations when emotions are examined in isolation, often validating limiting beliefs and ignoring the full connection. Integrating all aspects through tools like Neurosequential Modeling (NSI) allows for the regulation of the nervous system and the modification of stories rooted in core beliefs. The lack of integration in complex trauma can lead to a lack of sense of self beyond feeling states, and the inability to modulate emotions effectively. Remembering and processing fragmented experiences through these tools is a crucial step towards establishing boundaries and reclaiming sovereignty.
Integrating Healing Tools for Complex Trauma: Using a combination of cognitive and somatic healing tools, like the NSI and supplements, can help individuals with complex trauma make progress and regulate emotions more effectively.
For individuals dealing with complex trauma, using integrated tools for cognitive and somatic healing is crucial for making progress. The chaos of complex trauma can make it difficult to see progress, and without it, it can feel like a constant storm. The 4 F's and the inner critic can hinder daily tasks, making it challenging to "adult." However, through the use of tools like the NSI, individuals can experience vertical integration, enabling them to make progress and regulate emotions more effectively. A simple example of this progress can be seen in the ability to express emotions and then regulate them, as opposed to dissociating and shutting down completely. Additionally, taking care of physical health through supplements, like Athletic Greens, can support overall well-being and contribute to resilience. In summary, integrating various healing methods can help individuals with complex trauma make progress and better navigate the challenges they face.
Childhood trauma impacts vertical integration and emotional regulation: Childhood physical trauma can lead to unregulated limbic system, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty with communication and relationships. Developmental windows from age 9 to 18 are crucial for cortical control and emotional regulation.
Physical trauma experienced during childhood can significantly impact an individual's vertical integration and emotional regulation in adulthood. The discussion provided an example of someone who sustained a head injury from falling out of a swing and later developed vestibular issues, scoliosis, and emotional dysregulation. This person's brain was stuck in a survival state for years due to the trauma, preventing the normal development of cortical control and regulation of emotions. As a result, their limbic system became unregulated, leading to extreme reactions to emotional and limbic threats. This person struggled with basic communication and interpersonal relationships, requiring a 1 on 1 conversation in a peaceful environment for emotional regulation. The discussion also highlighted that developmental windows from age 9 to 18 are crucial for cortical control and emotional regulation, and bypassing these windows can lead to similar outcomes regardless of whether the trauma was physical or emotional in nature. It's important to recognize that physical trauma can invoke dysregulation just like emotional trauma, and many people may have some degree of developmental trauma due to various experiences throughout their lives.
Complex PTSD affects brain regulation in vertical and horizontal aspects: Complex PTSD can hinder verbal expression and writing due to brain imbalance, but expressive therapies can help activate the right cortex and restore balance.
Complex PTSD can lead to dysregulation in both the vertical (brain stem and cortex) and horizontal (right and left hemisphere) aspects of the brain. The right brain, associated with creativity, emotion, and intuition, may function relatively optimally, while the left brain, linked to logic, analysis, and verbal communication, may be less active. This imbalance can make it challenging for individuals with complex PTSD to express themselves verbally or in writing. However, engaging in art therapy, music therapy, or other expressive therapies can help activate the right cortex and increase overall brain activation, leading to better regulation and control of emotional and survival responses. Ultimately, the goal is to restore integration and balance within the brain and nervous system, allowing for effective adaptation to stressors and periods of rest and restoration.
Understanding the impact of an imbalanced nervous system: An imbalanced nervous system can hinder emotional processing and resilience, leading to chronic dysregulation and the inability to adapt to stress
An imbalanced nervous system can hinder our ability to adapt to stress and experience resilience. When we're stuck in a heightened sympathetic or parasympathetic state, we lose the capacity to regulate emotions and release them, which can prevent growth and forward movement in our lives. Over time, this dysregulation can become the new normal for the brain, creating additional challenges. The SHED Principle, which stands for Specific Adaptation to Imposed Demand, explains that the body adapts to the demands placed upon it. However, when the nervous system is constantly in a state of dysregulation, it can adapt to that as well, making it even more difficult to bounce back. It's crucial to prioritize balancing the nervous system to promote resilience and emotional processing.
Building neural pathways and interrupting PTSD patterns: For individuals with complex PTSD, frequent use of protective patterns can deepen nervous system imbalance. To interrupt this pattern, create safety, use healing modalities, and work with the nervous system to discharge emotions, leading to greater resilience.
The brain's neural pathways become stronger with frequent use, and for individuals with complex PTSD, this can lead to a deepening imbalance in the nervous system. This imbalance, often referred to as dysregulation, can be difficult to break as the brain continues to engage with protective patterns, even when the cognitive brain wants to move on. To interrupt this pattern, it's essential to create a sense of safety and show the nervous system that it's secure, rather than just telling it to calm down. This can involve using healing modalities in a way that minimizes further distress, creating a safe environment for challenging experiences, and working with the nervous system to discharge emotions. By focusing on the nervous system, individuals can interrupt the pattern and create new, healthier experiences. It's a continuous process that requires effort and the use of various tools, but ultimately leads to greater resilience and the ability to engage in life fully.
Recognizing and interrupting CPTSD patterns: Awareness of dissociation and daily practices like breathing and somatic exercises can help interrupt CPTSD patterns and build emotional resilience.
Recognition and awareness are crucial first steps in breaking the patterns of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). The speaker shared an experience of dissociating during a social event, but being aware of it allowed her to leave and maintain her boundaries. Awareness gives us the power to interrupt the pattern and use tools like breathing exercises, somatic exercises, or sensory inputs to regulate our nervous system. Building resilience through daily practice is also essential to maintaining composure and staying present in challenging situations. By recognizing and addressing our patterns, we can begin to interrupt them and build a stronger foundation for emotional well-being.
Our nervous system adapts and can be retrained for growth despite trauma: Despite trauma, our nervous system's ability to adapt allows for growth and deeper understanding of human experience
Our nervous system is always adapting, and we have the ability to change and retrain it to address trauma and survival responses. Trauma can take away our ability to be present and connect with others, but it also opens us up to deeper understandings about the human experience and the potential for growth. The tools and practices for working with the nervous system can help us reclaim our integration, self-expression, and connection to others. Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to adapt, doesn't stop with complex PTSD or physical trauma. People around the world have changed their brain's response to PTSD through neuro training and NSI tools. It's important to remember that if you're not dead, you're not done. Change and growth are possible. Daily self-nurturing, self-compassion, and conscious time and energy are essential for coming back to yourself and living a present and purposeful life. Being part of the healing revolution and embracing this process can bring hope and inspiration.
The power of presence for healing in the physical and social worlds: Neuroplasticity allows for healing, but it's challenging alone. Find community resources for practical tools to relieve stress, anxiety, and pain, and remember, we're all in this journey together.
Presence is key to restoring integration in both the physical and social worlds. Presence allows for optimal energy and information flow, leading to a transformed experience in life. Many people may relate to protective outputs such as dissociation, freeze, perfectionism, chronic fatigue, pain, and lack of presence or social anxiety. These issues can make daily life feel unfulfilling. However, there is hope for healing. Neuroplasticity allows for change within the nervous system and brain, but it can be challenging to do alone. Healing happens in community, and that's why resources like BrainBasedWellness.com offer a free 2-week video series with practical tools to help relieve stress, anxiety, and pain. As individuals explore these resources and find supportive tools, further guidance is available through booking a free call. Healing is possible, and it's important to remember that we're all in this journey together.