Rebuilding Your Own Mind: Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor

[upstream]

I happened across this while randomly browsing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCB0HFiFbVQ

And found more info here:

On 10 December 1996, neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor had a stroke when a blood vessel ruptured in her brain. Robbed of her memory, motor skills, even personality, she retreated into herself and dwelled primarily in her brain's right hemisphere. During the eight years to full recovery, she found ways to control her thoughts and rebuild her mind.

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/mg19826521.700-interview-the-stroke-survivor-who-trained-her-own-brain.html

For the past ten years, Dr. Taylor has been successfully rebuilding her brain - from the inside out. In response to the swelling and trauma of the stroke which placed pressure on her dominant left hemisphere, the functions of her right hemisphere have blossomed. Among other things, she now creates and sells unique stained glass brains. In addition she published a book about her recovery from stroke and the insights she gained into the workings of her brain. The book is titled My Stroke of Insight: A Brain Scientist's Personal Journey.

http://drjilltaylor.com/about.html

Her book can be read on google books: http://books.google.com

Recovering from both trauma and systematic abuse has often felt like piecing my mind back together. It's nice to see such a well documented parallel in science, especially by a neuroscientist.

I read that she helps people who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries. Is anyone familiar with her work? I'm wondering if this includes PTSD cases as well as strokes, and if it can be applied to what a lot of people here are going through.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

My understand is that PTSD rewires the brain (not sure on one or both sides) A stroke damages the brain. Maybe some of the damage is reversible.

I was in a car accident and have some brain damage mostly where my memory is. The damage is minimal. My nerologist told me that it is irreversible for me.

I think it will depend on if rewiring of one's brain is considered brain damage. I have a friend who is into Kundalini Awakening. This is another method of rewiring the brain. Also having electric shock treatments rewires the brain. So I think rewiring of the brain is not brain damage.

This is my 2 cents based on my understanding of it all
Tammy

 

[spiritofnow]

Upstream,

I like your rationale on this.
I have a module 'Physiological Psychology' on my Psych degree; we have covered illnesses and external trauma that cause brain damage. We have looked at research that highlights how the brain can develop compensatory measures in order to fulfil certain cognitive tasks that may have been lost or damaged. This type of recovery goes across the board in terms of how the person has been affected i.e., psychologically and/or neurlogogically. The brain has the capacity to heal and create new pathways in order for a person in the future to continue living as they once (or tat least very similar), did.

However, it is all about individual differences again. A lot of these types of studies have been researched on academicallly, socially and culturally advantaged people. It seems to suggest that the higher cognitively functioning individuals are more capable of creating these new connections due to the level of their previous life skills before the damage.

I do believe with the right amount of knowledge, support, and determination that PTSD symptoms can also be affected in this way. I too feel like I am peicing my mind back together. I feel like I am unearthing the how's and why's of my dysfunctional thinking at times and inappropriate life skills. I am re-educating myself and it is my brain that is making those all important intellectual and emotional connections.

Life and how we react to it is on a continuim, either end of the contiuim suggests negative behaviours and attitudes that are not conducive to a healthy and peaceful functioning life. The middle of the continuim is where I am aiming for. I realise I CANNOT change the past , but I can change my perception of it and how it has influenced my life. I am just going back to where all the negative and dysfunctional ways of living were created and giving myslef new schemas, based on the life expectations I have in the 'here and now'.

Nice positive post, upstream! I Like it :0)

Spirit x

 

[Cowgirl]

The mind is fascinating. Whether damaged physically or psychologically, it is damaged nonetheless. Negative thought patterns change brain chemistry. Brain chemistry in turn drives more negative thought patterns. And a vicious circle emerges. And yet, the brain is a marvelously adaptive organ.

I know someone who was born with cerebral palsy who struggled enormously to even learn to SPEAK. He is now a well-educated professional. His brain had to be "re-wired" with intensive therapy before he could begin the journey that has lead him to where he is today.

Intentionally re-wiring the brain in order to restore functionality may be the future. My view of CBT therapy is that it essentially re-wires the brain. Old thought patterns are abandoned in favor of new ones. That in turn begins to change brain chemistry. The brain is re-trained to think and react in different ways, and that changes its chemistry, which changes mood, emotional reactions, everything.

As an aside, Kundalini Awakening is not really about re-wiring the mind, but about releasing life force energy and awakening the spirit. Spiritual awakening is a good thing, but different. :)

Cowgirl

 

[sisu]

Along those same lines...

I read somewhere on here that someone used a stringed instrument to "re-wire" the thought process. She had played right handed normally. So for 3 months spent 40 minutes per day playing left handed. It was akward at first, but it forced her "right brain" to work better with her "left brain" and she hasn't had ptsd symptoms in several years.

What do you all think of that? Do you think it could work? What about someone who doesn't play an instrument.....could they do something else with the opposite hand.....like painting or writing?

Just curious :dontknow:

Sisu

 

[spiritofnow]

Cowgirl,

I absolutley agree concerning the theoretical perception of using CBT to change thoughts patterns....

And Sisu,

That is so interesting! I will ponder on this one and get back to you :-)

Spirit x

 

[upstream]

Yes, that's what my REBT therapist said. He said there is evidence that shows when you change the way you think, you form new neurological connections.

 

[lrs]

I am the music instrument guy, lrs. I have been called IRS, but it's actually Lrs. For a while my gender icon had me as a female, but I am definetely a male person.:wink:
I wrote a story about my experience, and it is posted on this forum, in this section, I think it might be on pg 8 or 9.:smile:
It is called "I Believe PTSD is Curable".
I am intrigued by the accomplishments of this individual, and I plan to find out what I can about her story.:think:

 

[spiritofnow]

Upstream,

I agree with the principle that new neuroligical connections are made when new patterns of throught processing are engaged. It just makes sense, and even with the very limited knowledge that I have gained through my studies, etc.

I guess you could compare it to learning to drive. Once the skillis are acquired new pathways and connections are made in order to retrieve the new data etc. Therefore, it stands to reason that by merely challenging your belief systems and altering the way that you perceive situations/information also brings about a new pathway.

The brain is afterall a living organism with the potential for infintite growth, I mean no-ones brain has ever been reported to have been filled up? Therefore, the possibilites for change are endless.........

Spirit x

 

[spiritofnow]

Hey there IRS :0) (insert big smiley face here).......

I will check this out!

Great to see you again!

Spirit x

 

[upstream]

I wrote a story about my experience, and it is posted on this forum, in this section, I think it might be on pg 8 or 9.:smile:

Here are the links for anyone searching for them:

[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread243.html[/DLMURL]
[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/46092-post21.html[/DLMURL]

 

[lrs]

There is another topic started by Dr Roerich. In my opinion, this is one of the most pertinent on this forum:
[DLMURL]http://www.ptsdforum.org/thread3202.html[/DLMURL]
Left Brain Struggles To Put Right Brain Emotion Into Words