Overcoming The "reptilian Brain"

[Hashi]

@stenni, a definite yes to the possibility of neuroplasticity (brain change). I've never understood why some people think the brain can rewire itself in one direction but not rewire itself back the other way. I've found that processing almost literally rewires the brain - depending on how you do it.

If it's too confrontational I think there's a risk of retraumatisation or reinforcing the negative neural pathways.

So far as I understand it, the thing to do to get better is to process trauma... I'm not fussed about what method is used for this.

I think the method matters hugely.

I think there's little that a cognitive (eg CBT) approach can do to change something non-cognitive. Personally I'd actually put things like trauma-focussed CBT into the "too confrontational to be helpful" bracket. I think most fans of CBT in it's various forms see it as a way of managing symptoms more than healing the brain and central nervous system.

But other things can and do enable brain change - like somatic therapy, imagery, expressing feelings, being validated and talking about trauma in a way that's helps to release it.

 

[The Albatross]

CBT is a way of creating new habits and behavior. Scanning the world in a different way. Looking at events in a different way. It isn't about healing the brain, per se. It is about perception, and subtle perceptual shifts that can make things less disturbing.

It is like carrying a camera and looking for photo opportunities.

The world and everything in it, is a different way to scan the world with CBT.

 

[Hashi]

... which is a perfect example of the way individuals are different. What Albatross says might be exactly what you're hoping for. It might be different. Only you can know that.

I think you need to know that. You need to know what you want and what the implications of the various treatments are, towards that. Otherwise, your treatment won't have much to do with you. It will be about other people's ideas.

I'm not fussed about what method is used for this.

Healing/management or whatever you're aiming for isn't a method that is used [by others]. It's the method that you are using. You are not a passive object to be worked on by other people. This is your work, your healing, your recovery... and your choice.

 

[The Albatross]

Reptilian brain can be trumped by "new behaviors". Not very well by new habits. I still get the body shocks, but CBT gave me the pause to choose how to breathe through it to form a response.