Today I was reading an article about how traumatic events physically change our brains. These changes are not a result of physical injury. That certainly can happen, but that would be considered a traumatic brain injury… not what the article was about. It did however suggest that the brain appears to rewire itself after these experiences in two ways. The first is that the person rewires the brain to develop new patterns of thought that fall into the realm of unhealthy thinking, like PTSD. The second rewires the brain through different parts of the brain that help with executive functions, a much healthier and more productive approach.
What was the key factor in determining which route the brain takes?
Experiencing the emotion of fear!
Yep, fear was the determining factor in how the brain rewires itself after the trauma. The article focused more on the concept of feeling threatened, but fear is definitely in the same wheelhouse.
I’ve always found it so fascinating that two people can go through the same exact experience and have completely different outcomes. When we understand that there are differences in how the brain is rewired, it makes so much more sense. The person whose experience is wired through areas like the Amygdala (which is highly involved in emotional processing) would naturally process those memories with a more emotional response like those suffering from PTSD. While others may be able to continue functioning completely normally because their experience is wired through parts of the brain used in higher-level functions of the brain.
So how does this apply to someone struggling with an addiction? I think it highlights one of the underlying principles of mindfulness… the idea that we can take our minds to another place.
Let me give you an example. I had a retreat last summer and one of the activities was a really intense battle that involved me yelling and screaming at the attendees like a drill sergeant. Not tearing them down in any way, but helping each person step into the mindset of a warrior. The task required each participant to give “100%” and push themselves to the point of exhaustion. Some may even describe the level of intensity as potentially traumatic levels. But nobody came away from the exercise feeling traumatized. Why? Switching into a “Warrior Mindset” allowed them to push their bodies to that point without stepping into a place of fear. It gave their minds a place to go that could solidify the memories of the experience with the emotions of empowerment rather than fear.
I’m hoping to do another retreat soon to help others learn these tools as they relate to finding real FREEDOM! Maybe we’ll get to try this or something similar to it together.
For those of you who were there (at the epic 2022 retreat) and got to experience this firsthand, feel free to weigh in with your take on the warrior process in the comments below.
