New thinking on the relationship between trauma, the body, mind, and brain
Throughout my studies of TRE, I have started to understand some new ideas regarding the relationship between the different parts of ourselves, and why it might sometimes seem that the body and mind appear to be in conflict, how the body might have responded inexplicably, especially in understanding and making sense of traumatic or stressful events.People might sometimes feel conflicted and anguish over a past traumatic event and wonder why they reacted the way they did. Why did they freeze instead of fight? Why didn’t they do something in the moment that they could before it was too late?These kinds of thought patterns after the event can be difficult to understand and accept. It may challenge our identity about who ‘we are’ as a person – and people might engage in a talking therapy to deconstruct the issues raised from the event, and their reaction to it.For example, someone is attacked on the street and robbed. They might be upset with themselves because, in their perception, there was a moment when they could have either escaped or fought back but instead they froze and complied with the assailant. Later on reflection, they wonder why they didn’t react the way they thought that they would in that situation.New theories have been developed around the nervous system and its functioning which may offer new insights into how and why we behave the way we do, even if we consciously find it hard to square our actions (or non-actions) with our identities of “who we are”, or what we thought we would do in such a situation.In order to understand this, new explanations of brain development and function have been postulated.
Our 3 brains in 1 space
The Triune brain
Photo by meo on Pexels.comTheories like the Polyvagal Theory now offer new ways of considering how the nervous system developed in humans which offer new explanations and understandings in our reactions, especially to traumatic or high-stress situations.One of the ideas is considering the human brain, not as one whole coherent system, but rather as an evolutionary development that has leftover elements of our hereditary heritage as mammals and even older evolutionary adaptations, that still affects human nervous systems in our modern world.These three systems are built on top of each other and can sometimes be in conflict and send contradictory messages to the nervous system.
Brainstem
The first part of the brain to consider is the brainstem – also referred to as the ‘reptilian brain’. This base brain is responsible for the unconscious running of the human body’s basic functions. Breathing, blinking, heart rate, and blood pressure can all be associated with these primitive parts of the brain.This is the area of the brain that keeps you safe, scans the environment for danger, and takes action if needed before the conscious mind has a chance to become aware and engage.This part of the brain will activate certain nervous system circuits to ensure the organism has prepared the necessary bodily responses the organism needs to protect itself.For example, the human body might retract the leg automatically when it perceives that an object on the ground is a snake – even if, upon further inspection, it is recognised as actually a long stick. The body reacts first and questions later. It is an evolutionary response that will ensure the organism stays alive as overreacting will ultimately keep the person alive. It’s known as the reptilian brain as the most basic part of our brain, responsible for unconscious processes like breathing, blinking and heart rate that is shared by very basic organisms too.
The Limbic System
The second layer of the brain is the limbic system. This system contains the emotional circuits. Emotional responses and reading of the environmental factors, as picked up by other similar organisms around it will enable the individual to respond in accordance with the group.If every similar organism to you is expressing fear and running from a particular object – then it would make sense to follow that panic as if you stop to consider how suitable the response is – you might be eaten by that marauding tiger in the meantime. Best to stick with the group and do as the group does.Unconsciously we look for cues of safety or danger from our peers and the environment around us. This herding instinct can be seen in animals, and humans can display similar traits. We don’t think consciously about it, we follow the panicked crowd as we assume they are moving to safety.We pick up cues of safety or danger by listening for disturbing voices and sounds and watching faces for clues as to the emotional state of those around us and where, if any, danger lies.These systems are baked into our evolutionary design and have functions that keep us protected from the tiger wandering down the savannah.Of course, it is now very rare that most people have to protect themselves from a wandering tiger – however, the evolutionary hardware has been built into our nervous system
The human /mammalian brain
Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Pexels.comThe final part of the equation, the third part or the mammalian /human brain, is the part designed to sit on top of the two systems already mentioned.The cerebral cortex. The part that distinguishes humans from other animals. The cerebral cortex is the largest site of neural integration in the central nervous system. It plays a key role in attention, perception, awareness, thought, memory, language, and consciousnessThe ability to use logic, reason, and our ‘executive function’.Wikipedia describes executive function as “a set of cognitive processes that are necessary for the cognitive control of behaviour: selecting and successfully monitoring behaviours that facilitate the attainment of chosen goals. Executive functions include basic cognitive processes such as attentional control, cognitive inhibition, inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. Higher-order executive functions require the simultaneous use of multiple basic executive functions and include planning and fluid intelligence (e.g., reasoning and problem-solving).” My understanding is the executive function comes from the cerebral cortex and is part of the functions that make humans different from the rest of the animal kingdom, even if some abilities are simply enhanced by degrees rather than being different from our mammalian cousins.This part of the brain can read and overcome the other parts activation through conscious awareness, planning or preparedness for managing aroused states through strategic interventions – like breathing deeply for example. So an understanding of how the brain works can help inhibit or alleviate the unconscious processes which the other parts of the brain might trigger. The higher levels of reasoning and executive function can override the natural primitive responses with awareness, planning and some support.
Why am I telling you this?
Because sometimes we might experience conflict between the three areas of the brain and find it difficult to reconcile the different messages that each is giving us in a particular situation.I remember once when I was being told off by my boss at work in a private meeting, and I focused so hard internally to remain calm and relaxed in the chair as I was confronted with his displeasure.It would have been a natural reaction to find myself sweating, feeling hot ‘under the collar’, and allowing my body to become stiff and tense as I sat there. All normal responses to ‘protect’ myself from this perceived attack.To counter this natural drift to stress, I recall consciously making every effort to stay present, ensure my body remained relaxed and that I was aware to continually take deep breaths, stay calm and remain balanced.It wasn’t pleasant the meeting(!) however, on reflection, I was proud that I was able to manage my state and regulate my organism to deal with the situation rather than treating the event as a tiger wandering through the room and responding with automatic fear.I was able to stay regulated throughout using my knowledge of the key techniques that would keep me calm.We know that there are physical and mental things we can do to keep ourselves emotionally regulated and calm – which enables us to manage a stressful situation more effectively.Having an understanding of how our nervous system works enables us to mitigate its effects by utilising the higher brain regions through preparedness. Safely releasing stored tension built up in the system through thoughts or activities that enable the system to regain its emotional balance is a skill that can be developed.
Why is this important?
A quote that I find powerful is “make friends with your nervous system”, and, on reflection, I notice that when I am out of control it’s because I have lost control of my nervous system response momentarily.We ought to never make a permanent decision based on a temporary emotion – yet how easy is it some time to do that to get away from the discomfort or anger that presently engulfs us?When we make friends with our nervous system, it allows us to be prepped and manage the situation using reason and logic rather than emotional outbursts.There are several techniques which can work on safely releasing stored tension from the organism as well as developing life skills to manage those situations where we might be hijacked by our internal operating systems.And so some organisms, for whatever reason, function as if there is a tiger in the room with them, and they are unable to activate cues of safety to allow themselves to destress. There are many techniques available to help with this state. The first step is deciding to find out more about how to do it. I have detailed 3 strategies which all help overcome stress and tension and reorientate a person to more relaxed de-stressed, emotionally regulated and resilient being. There’s a great interview by Lou Lebentz with Benjamin Fry – author of The Invisible Lion which explains these concepts further here.Of course, you are also welcome to contact me to try a TRE session or learn breathing and meditative techniques which I strongly believe also work to calm and regulate the nervous system.
