This phrase has run through my brain quite a lot since I read it. It's accompanied by the words 'This must be why things that were so normal to me were so abnormal to others.' If this is true, it explains a lot a things.
Lisa
The reason I believe that things seemed so normal in childhood is connected less with brain wiring and more with what you are used to, if you have only ever known things one way then why would you think anything odd about what you have experienced. It would stand to reason that you would think that this is the norm. And the way I understand it is; when we begin to realise that what has happened to us and that something is amiss and not like other peoples experiences, we then seek out understanding as to why these things have been the way they have for us. And it is through this that feelings of low self worth and denial (amongst other things) come into play for us. And it is this that can and does fracture who we are psychologically.
Our brain wiring and effects on mental function can be from results or chemical imbalances that have taken place during our whole life times and our experiences during, but if during childhood when our cell and brain development is most vulnerable and is changing at a pace we will not see again as we grow older, such imbalances I would think could not help but affect - fundamentally the physical development of the brain. If a young brain is constantly receiving high doses of anything it does not require for "normal" development, it will become affected and whether it is adverse or not will not be known until later when problems; whether they are psychological or physical present themselves.
Research has shown that the brain has a plasiticity about it that we do not fully understand. Now for me
Plasticity simply put - is the plyability of something to develope and alter due to external pressures, these pressures can be both good and bad. The brain is an amazing thing, and more is not known about it than is known. For example; different areas can develope to cope with functioning in parts that may have been damaged, and no longer able to function in the same way as had been prior to damage. So plasticity is the ability of, in this instance the brain, to somehow be reworked in a way that allows for compensation of another part (perhaps) that has somehow been altered in whatever way, and it's cause and effect can be of benefit in a way similar to the desired original working and response.
Now these is only my personal thoughts on this and it is only a part of those same thoughts. I have read and studied a lot over the years but I am not qualified to speak professionally on any of this, but it helps me to understand and I cope better knowing some of this stuff.
For me the thought of my brain and mind being kind of like Plasticine is ok, and yes I am talking about modelling clay here. It means that despite something having happened to them -either of them, there is still possiblity for change. And I do believe that whether or even if someone has been very adversely affected at a chemical level, there can still be a way to find something that can enable them or anyone to have a good and meaningful life. And that no matter what has happened to us, that plasticity of the brain and mind can reshape and work in perhaps a different way, and this is a good thing because it can still be a way that can be very productive for being no matter how that is looked on.
I hope this helps someone, I am quite proud of myself here and I can only hope that I have explained this ok and that maybe it isnt too far off base. It is as I have said still only my opinion and thoughts, but I don't think they are too weird or whacky. And perhaps if I am wrong someone can correct me, or even if I am right maybe someone will be able to add to this.
Both the physical brain and the psychological mind are amazing and I believe can be fully adept at change, even if we do not fully understand how or why that change can be affected, I believe it can still and anyway.
Thankyou for reading - if you have!!
~fin
