Articles on Primal Therapy, psychogenesis, causes of psychological traumas, brain development, psychotherapies, neuropsychology, neuropsychotherapy. Discussions about causes of anxiety, depression, psychosis, consequences of the birth trauma and life before birth.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
What Does the Brain Do When Attacked?
(I am taking part of this from somewhere but I lost where? Part from Shirley Ward)
The brainstem takes care of sensations and vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, hormonal output, the alimentary canal, digestion and urinary processes. Interestingly, during the zygotic period after fertilization of the ovum, the first organ to develop is the alimentary canal and digestive system. Bodily sensations of fear, such as stomach ‘butterflies’ or pain, originate in the alimentary canal and digestive system.
After fertilization, an embryo develops from the 3rd week, the primal brain structures (the spinal cord, midbrain) developing simultaneously with the organs and limbs. The brain/body architecture morphs into recognizable form by the 11th week of womb life. The first three months of womb life are ostensibly the most critical period of human development, because this is the time when all internal and external brain and bodily structures develop. During this critical period, the exposure of an embryo to certain agents such as chemicals, drugs, alcohol, nicotine and or cortisol may cause major congenital malformations. and safety are of paramount importance.
The period from the beginning of the 3rd month to the birth is known as the fetal period. The main characteristic of the fetus in this period is the rapid growth of the body and the brain and the maturation of the tissues. The brain functions in a partnership with the body and early embryonic memories are stored in the cellular structures of the body as well as the brain.
The zygote, embryo or early fetus has primary needs which can be met by the parents. These primary needs require the mother and father to be nourished in the healthiest way, to be fit and not have toxins in their bodies. The mother needs to be calm and contained, in other words, happy and contented. She needs to know that her partner will support and help her. The father of the baby needs to be involved and taking full responsibility for his paternity. It is best if each member of the couple loves each other and that they exist in a peaceful society. This state of affairs creates the best possible conditions for the tiny being to develop in the womb.
Very early experiences of stress or traumatic events in the womb , such as lack of oxygen or nourishment, or increased cortisol levels when a mother is exposed to prolonged or severe stress, will affect the brain stem. Neuro hormonal and chemical receptors and pathways of the brain are permanently affected by stress in the early period of brain development of the embryo A state of war, food shortages, famine, violence, conflict or loss will induce severe fear and anxiety in the parents, and particularly the mother, affecting the neuro-chemical development of the unborn child.
When, as adults, we experience inexplicable symptoms for example, sweating, increased heart rate and respiration, it may be that our primal brainstem memory is being triggered. Many people experience adult anxiety, panic attacks, fear, depression and other so called psychiatric symptoms, which may well be related to the very early months of womb experience.
A zygote and early embryo holds cellular memories of womb events in the body. No information is ever lost. Think about this. In terms of trauma it means that whole groups of people may be carrying memories of trauma that many generations ago and echoes of which are stored in the body and particularly in the brain stem. Unfortunately, because these memories are not easily retrieved, humans tend to act out their traumatic imprints on others and the world around them.
It is incumbent on us to prevent unnecessary trauma occurring to our offspring, and therefore recommended that each one of us, both individually and collectively, become conscious of our own traumatic imprints and commence a healing journey, both alone and with others. This link to Shirley ward’s article describes how people feel when they are assisted to relive their early conception experiences. http://primal-page.com/ward2.htm
Love, the way humans feel love, is the greatest force in the universe. It is love that will help us heal and reassemble our past and our future. It is love that will help us to educate, to guide and to show others how to conceive in love.
Wow, this is a really great link, thanks Art I will have to read it properly when I have time.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh, I could relate so strongly to some; I think rage is so universal. My Mother had been told she couldn't conceive (due to a horseriding accident) so when she found out she was preg w/me (her first) she was amazed. Reading Ward's article I connected w/how I feel everything is amazzzing! How much deeper our ideas &therapy may be in years to come.
I thought the 3rd trimester of pregnancy was the most important, not the first?
I received your new book today. I like the layout/small font.
I definitely think that the best way to attempt to diminish collective world wide accumulated primal pain is to heavily promote what is right for sex, reproduction, in womb care, early post birth treatment and continued compassion and understanding of just how sensitive kids really are.
ReplyDeleteIf more knew just how they were or could affect the child, then maybe more attention would be given and much less pain created.
To try to cure someone after the fact is much more difficult, due to us having to work, and often being chained to our jobs and circumstances that keep us from “just feeling it.” Thank you Nancy.
Art, you heavily promote the solution to undoing pain, but I think the emphasis should be on preventing pain. I notice a movement called “Attachment Parenting” and I think it’s a great development, since it seems to adopt most “Janovian” recommendations for babies and kids. Maybe you should take a look at it and comment and offer more advice on it.
But prevention is the most likely way to advance the human race, if it is at all possible. To try to cure after damage is done, is a long shot since it depends on people finding out about PT and that is not likely. I stress emphatically: PREVENTION!
Shirley Ward relies on the statements written by neurotic patients as do all other psychotherapies including cognitive behavioural therapy. none of those therapies incorporate biological facts.
ReplyDeleteTo be here and now all the time must be of a tremendous effort in sense of experience life… life to not feel about such a thing as anxiety and depression… shame and hate.
ReplyDeleteSeconds of “enlightening”(lust to live)… enlightening a word I don’t like… as it refer to more suspicious areas as religion… but still gives a color to what I try to explain. It’s fantastic to look people in their faces and feel to be there… what a kick. Art can’t you tell about that? I know… it’s impossible but still I want you all to know that there is something more to experience than anxiety and depression. Thanks to your Primal Therapy Art.
Frank
Apollo: I agree and that is why I wrote Life Before Birth. I totally believe in prevention. art
ReplyDeleteJacquie: Oh you are so right; there is nothing more than loved and be loved. But thanks for the accolade. art
ReplyDeleteFrank: thanks again. art
ReplyDeleteApollo, your first paragraph sums it well, but you forgot birth itself.
ReplyDeleteI've always believed in preventive medicine, and w/the necessary information Primal is now heading that way..
Last night was a gorgeous loved &be loved night for me, w/my sister and her kids 3, 6. I cannot get enough of cuddling and kissing them, children are so sensual and adorable. Then my niece, 6, showed me everything in her bedroom, what an honour. I wish I could upload a picture.
many parents shit on their children, then ask for forgiveness. some children forgive. unfeeling parents make grotesque noises when they try to feed off a child's hug. when children don't forgive, the parent's mock apology vanishes.
ReplyDeletemmmmmmm kids are so delicious
Dr. Janov,
ReplyDeleteMy I post these two excerptAbused children 'have brains of frontline soldiers and are more likely to get depressed'
by Mike Swain, Daily Mirror 6/12/2011
CHILDREN exposed to violence at home show the same brain changes as war veterans.
Scientists have used brain imaging for the first time to try to discover the long-term impact of physical abuse and domestic violence on vulnerable children.
When children have been exposed to violence at home their brains become more “tuned” to possible threats, the imaging, published by the journal Cell Press, revealed.
The altered brain states may be a kind of defence mechanism abused children develop to protect them from anger.
Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/12/06/abused-children-have-brains-of-frontline-soldiers-and-are-more-likely-to-get-depressed-115875-23612475/#ixzz1fmnOb0l9
s?
Every five hours a child dies from abuse or neglect in the US.
The latest government figures show an estimated 1,770 children were killed as a result of maltreatment in 2009.
A recent congressional report concludes the real number could be nearer 2,500.
In fact, America has the worst child abuse record in the industrialised world. Why? The BBC's Natalia Antelava investigates. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-15288865
Sieglinde
The pain children are dished out is tragic. But, it needs to be pointed out that when we abuse adults in the work place, trivial police traffic fines, businesses abusing with the protection of the law, no less. Schools also horrendously abuse kids and we don’t mention that.
ReplyDeleteAfter adults are continually harassed outside the home, and having already acquired much pain from their parents, only assures that they will come home and abuse their own kids in utter frustration with their daily torment outside.
We say we love children but if we do not stop the abuse of adults who are parents, then there is no hope. Do you know how tragic this insight is? Even that monster, Adolf Hitler, acknowledged this very problem of adult abuse at large. If we ignore it, which we do, we have sunk to his level and worse.
We need to, as best as possible, provide for real rights and protections from adult abuse, not the token lies dumped on us by governments, who cover for business while it rips us to shreds. If we can not make the work place more fair and humane, you can forget about anything else and dig a hole in the ground, jump in, and pull the dirt over.
Our world is monstrous and horrifying, beyond words, really. And its going to get worse. Notice how what few rights or protections we had are now evaporating daily. Its going from bad to worse. You don’t have any right anymore. Guess how that is going to impact kids? So while helping kids is important, to focus only on them and allow the outrageous abuse of adults is sickening and narrow minded.
PTSD is so wide spread now. Many are not military casualties, either. But this can be said, abused people are so easy to manipulate and push around. They are too awash in pain to have their minds function adequately. They walk around hypnotized and paralyzed, almost dead, really. You see, zombies are real, after all. Any solution to pain must be one for all.
MLK said that an attack on anyone’s rights is an attack on all people’s rights. Can we accept that premise? A very good one at that!
Hi Apollo ,Amen ,Amen ,Amen!!!
ReplyDeleteIn Germany there own 11 percent of
the population 7 Trillion Euros the
"other people2 140 Billion!!! Yors emanuel
Sieglinde
ReplyDeleteHave you ever wondered why many people go into the military. If one is brought up in a dictatorial home where one has to blindly follow orders without question where better to carry on one's life unquestioningly but in a very similar set up. Half the Brain washing the military needs to do in terms of creating unthinking killing machines has been done for them. One can carry on following orders and then also be able to take one's anger about one's own abuse out on legitimate enemy targets. Is it any wonder that so many military personel find it difficult to survive in the wider world where negociation and self worth are more previlent. I would argue that the soldiers who develop PTSD had a head start in that they were mistreated as children and therefore are less able to handle the great stress of war. I was such a mistreated child and then suffered for years at the hands of a so-called caring Doctor and a pretty useless NHS when it came to so called mental illness when I was just trying to remember that abuse which society refuses to aknowledge and was thus labelled as delusional. My delusion was that i had a happy childhood and loving Parents. I now have PTSD mainly I think due to the trauma of not being treated well by that system and my family. Because I started out traumatised I found it harder to cope when I did start to remember due to the great anger and pain that errupted flooding my Brain with Cortizol I think. I now find I cannot write as well as I did and my Brain does feel different. Right at the beginning of the Primal Scream Art says that men suffer because we are expected to be tough and unfeeling and then wives wonder why thier beloved dies younger of heart attacks etc. I would suggest that Boys are expected to be doers and doers don't think so perhaps we are conditioned early on not to and that is perhaps why the junction between right and left Brain is less connected in many Boys. Is that as much a trauma rather than a physiological thing in men. The US has one of the worst mental health records in the developed world perhaps because it does not recognise how badly treated it's kids are. Beaten at school in many states with fibre glass paddles with holes drilled in them to cut wind resistance. Probably huge uses of drugs during child birth and the medicalisation of a natural process. I would argue that the macho society where military victories are treated as great parts of history and a countries indentity is the society which creates that PTSD. I wonder what people would be like for example if the "Terrible Two's" were not punished as tantrums but treated as a child learning about feelings and experimenting. Maybe that junction in the Brain would be far better connected just because of that. That BBC investigation picks up on much and the expert says blaming Parents is easy. I would blame Society and Society is Parents as who dares criticise Parents. While society advocates any kind of hitting or smacking of children it presents people with great hypocrasy.
Planespotter,
ReplyDeleteI thought your observations were quite good. I also note that though you suffer from PTSD, you still managed to discover PT. You still have a fair amount of good sense, even if you struggle. It is possible to experience adversity and still use your head. Certainly, PT will make life much easier, but it is not a luxury we all can afford. I hope you get the chance because none of us should have to carry around too much and too many do carry too much.
Your right on in that most who end up PTSD likely had previous abuse. I note that Jaycee Dugard in her interviews, was so resilient in what she went through. A remarkable woman. But from all said, I believe her mom really loved her. She held out hope forever that her girl would one day come back to her. That’s serious love. That is why Jaycee was so resilient. I was most impressed by how she reacted to having her 2 girls. She wanted to be able to give them everything she knew, even if it was not much. I would love to see interviews with them talking about growing up with her.
It is not a situation you would expect remarkable things to come from. But they happened anyway. Lets face it, our society loves to lie about life. TV lies all the time. I have been re-watching 60s TV and they show life as full of conscientious men of great integrity and benevolence when just the opposite was true. Things always worked out so good and justice always prevailed. Only thing missing was the fairy godmother.
Schools are vicious and brutal. No one should ever be sent to school. Why not just take them out and beat them yourself? We have no real compassion or concern for kids. We give lip service and not much more. But as well, our society does abuse adults/parents and that only makes it all worse for the kids. But you made the most important 1st step. You discovered the problem. Most have not. And you even found a possible cure, even if hard to reach. That’s 2 steps. You are part of a very small group of people who give a little more thought to life.
One wish I would have, is that you see people as the cause of problems, not guns, drugs, religion, etc. All those things are nothing without people to misuse them. Its all about people. Don’t lose sight of that.
Hi Apollo
ReplyDeleteI discovered PT via a long and twisted road of EMDR, Cognative behaviourial therapy, 10 years on Zeroxat and all the other "caring" ways Society and "traditional" Physcology and Physciatry denies the trauma visited on many millions of children. I think I have always been able to cry which perhaps saved me. I discovered "Drama of a gifted child" by Alice Miller and I suppose that was the start of real discovery. I discovered The Primal Centre via her work. Frankly her books were like life rafts in a very stormy sea. I then read the Primal Scream and it made so much sense. While doing Cognative Behavioural Therapy it seemed crazy that someone who was suffering from awful panic attacks like I was, was suppossed to sit down and repress my feelings. I suppose I am what some may call an extrovert (or was). I felt feelings but could not put them in context. Perhaps I am more thoughtful and understanding of myself now. With regard to Guns, Drugs and Religion they are all created by people so I agree. I suppose in the end we all try to understand the ways we were manipulated by our Parents, schools and greater society. Guns have never played a part in my life except for an air rifle as a kid. However Religion did because while my Father professed to be an agnostic he had actually left the Catholic church due to Vatican 2 which amongst other things stopped blaming the Jews for the death of Christ. It was a small step along the road to a more liberal church but that did not suit my racist and controlling Father. He hid his true feelings and imposed a very tight control behind a clever veil of liberalism. It is people, but sometimes to get to the understanding of the people who hurt one one has to understand the institutions which they used against one.
to planespotter
ReplyDeleteYes I did wonder why many people go into the military. My observation came to the same results as yours – it is the abused who will re-abuse or even kill. In many cases many joined the military to act out their deeply rooted hate, but they call it “defending the country” against an enemy who never really existed (excepted inside themselves). As I dug deeper in the mind of these “heroes”, I found much unsolved helplessness, defenselessness. Most of all, a unloved child who was controlled and dominated instead of loved.
“I would argue that the soldiers who develop PTSD had a head-start in that they were mistreated as children and are therefore less able to handle the great stress of war.”
This was my argument after Professor Elbert Uni Konstanz, of Germany revealed his research, that nearly everybody is ready to kill if pushed hard enough, even women, and not only in a defense mode. In my letter to him I asked if he selected people for his study, with or without childhood trauma. Unfortunately Professor Elbert, who normally is very open to questions, chose not to answer my question.
Sieglinde
SWA,
ReplyDeleteYou stumbled onto something with your professor. You know you are on the right track when they go silent. He did not know there was a difference tween childhood trauma or not. Oops! Silence says a lot!