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Whether it is burnout, depression, phobia or anxiety, the condition appears following significant events in a person’s life.
We can conclude that these problems are physical and psychological manifestations, reactions of the body and mind to their environment.
Here is a simplified explanation, based on two scientific models, that will help to explain why the PsychoPhysio approach can, in most cases rapidly cure these afflictions.
NEUROLOGICAL MODEL
What happens on a PHYSICAL level?
The principals of neurobiology, particularly those of the development of the brain, explain how the anatomy of the nervous system develops and what the mechanisms are that tie physiology and psychology together.
The development of the human brain occurs in three stages
(G.M. Edelman) :
1st stage: Development
There is initially a selective interconnection of neurons that form neurological circuits. This is a normal process by which the brain treats life experiences for the smooth functioning of the body. Each neurological group has a specific function.
Example : language, movement, etc.
2nd stage : Experiences
The development of neurological circuits can be affected by trauma and/or
particularly stressful repetitive experiences that provoke the formation
of distinct tension centers*. They are called « Neural maps ».
*Our centeral observation demonstrates that these tension centers are often created by experiences that seem trivial today but that were not so at the time that they were first experienced.
3e stage: Re-entry
The repetition of stressful experiences assigns a specialty to each of the neural maps. Each person will develop their own way of handling different stressful situations. This repetition of stressful experiences will trigger, over time, the somatization* process that will translate into depression, burnout, anxiety or phobia.
Example : repetitive abandon by loved ones.
*emotional conflict that is transformed into a physical disorder.
PSYCHOLOGICAL MODEL
What happens on a PSYCHOLOGICAL level?
It is by understanding how memory works that we can understand what is happening on a psychological level. It is the long-term memory system that is at work.
Long-term memory functions in a very complex manner. It contains vital information from a psychological point of view. This is where life experiences are remembered, however only significant events with strong emotional impact are stored. According to Endel Tulving, there are three types of memory (episodic, semantic and procedural). The development of the
long-term memory occurs in three stages: selection, encoding and re-entry.
1st stage: Selection
Are retained :
Events with a strong emotional impact
Example a): a small car collision will not be remember; however, a car accident with severely wounded passengers and/or death will be remembered
and/or repetitive events with significant emotional consequences.
Example b) :« I am 6 years old, every Friday night,
my father goes out and my mother cries ».
2nd stage : Encoding
Are encoded :
Details of the event
Example a) : «during the accident a had a taste of blood in my mouth, it smelled of gas, there was glass all over and I felt a strong pressure on my left arm »
and/or the meaning associated to an event.
Example b) : « my father did not respect my mother and all men are like him »
This encoding creates distinct tension centers that, in psychological terms are referred to as engrams.
3rd stage: Re-entry (reinforcement)
Each time a person lives through similar interrelated or repetitive events, this has the effect of increasing the intensity of the tension center (engrams). Re-activation of the center of tension triggers the somatization process.
Example a): « I have had many car accidents. Now,
each time I get into the car, my hands get sweaty, I have a sore stomach
and the pain comes back».
Example b): « I have had a sore stomach every Friday night since my
childhood. »
LINK BETWEEN THE TWO MODELS AND
THE PSYCHOPHYSIO TREATMENT
We can establish a comparison between the physical and the psychological
models by noting the repercussions that significant events have on a
person. On the psychological level, they affect long term memory with
encoding (episodic memory), with the meaning that is attached to the
event (semantic memory) and with the behaviour that they create (procedural
memory).
On a neurological level, these same events create tension centres, distinct
neural maps. One of the strengths of the Psycho Physio approach is that
it works with the neural maps as well as with long-term memory.
· During the Sound Resonance
Treatment phase, long term memory is activated. This allows to identify
the origin of the problem by recalling the significant events and/or
trauma and to identify their negative effects. The treatments stimulate
the episodic memory while deactivating the tension centres, i.e. the
neural maps related to these significant events.
· During the second phase, the Psycoaching,
the task is to understand the meaning that the person has given to these
events and/or trauma and to clearly identify the negative effects they
had on them. The Psycoaching mainly involves the semantic memory.
· During the Integration
phase, the focus is on making behavioural changes (procedural memory).
Copyright Psycho Physio International Inc. 2003-2008