Reshaping the Brains

I woke up this morning with a start, seized by unexplained anxiety. My cognitive mind searched for the trigger, the reasons and finding none rebuked myself for my neurosis. Yet this has been one of my underlying templates, an unconscious mode which rears it head from time to time and which I have tried so hard to suppress.

Unexplained anxieties or overblown worries may have various origins.

I recall the words of Mark Pearson, author of the book Sandplay and Symbol work:
"The impact of traumatic events can build up in the unconscious from as far back as our time in the womb. When there is a protective shut-down of feelings the unconscious material can have a pervasive negative and limiting effect on the psyche".

Another explanation is of course biological. Neurotransmitters are the chemicals which allow the transmission of signals from one neuron to the next across synapses in our brain. For example the neurotransmitter gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is involved in relaxation and imbalances may cause anxiety dosorders.

CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), a commonly used counselling strategy, calls upon our cognitive reasoning to challenge misbeliefs and reframe thinking. However in situations where misbeliefs or triggers are not consciously apparent, the unconscious fears have to be expressed through some form of emotional release techniques in place of talk therapy. Art therapy is one such example. Relaxation techniques including meditation is known to be helpful too. Research has in fact discovered that specific areas of the brain that regulates emotion and pain are significantly thicker in meditators than non meditators. One of the most popular areas of research in psychology these days is neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to restructure itself after training or practice. A discovery by researchers at the Brain Mind Institute of the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) shows that the brain rewires itself following an experience. Neurons fire together wire together, that means if one practices to be in a certain state of mind (being calm for example); the construct of the brain is gradually altered which in turn renders the person's state of mind to be more calm. I believe the reverse is applicable too, which means if one stresses the brains constantly the wired neurons will further reinforce the stressful state of mind.

Fortunately for all of us it is found that the brains is really quite plastic, meaning it is quite easy for the neurons to rewire or reprogram. Given this wonderful discovery we should aim to put ourselves in the desired state with whatever technique suitable. For myself I find that when I practise Chinese calligraphy I have to still my mind and really concentrate. As I proceed and about half an hour into it my mind begins to feel at ease and enjoy the moment. Next year I intend to embark on meditation class. Hopefully I can rewire my neurons so that they become less of an anxious mess.