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Estimates of combat-related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in U.S. veterans since the Vietnam War ranges from approximately 2& to 17%. Additional studies of combat veterans of more recent wars places the range of Iraq War returnees who suffer from PTSD between 4% and 17%. Currently, there is no one form of treatment that has been found effective in combating this disorder, but can the brain somehow be encouraged to calm itself down?
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PTSD is classified as an anxiety disorder brought on as the result of witnessing a life-threatening event. The individual repeatedly re-experiences distressing memories of the event and this constant repetition eventually alters the composition of the neural networks which process traumatic memories. This memory repetition also initiates:
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Iterative learning – learning through repetition to fear the traumatic event
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Top-down activation – expecting to find a certain pattern, the brain focuses attention on finding evidence of that pattern and not processing what is actually there
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Pruning – eliminating tiny connections between neurons called synapses that don’t receive a lot of activity, further changing the structure of neural networks
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Eventually, the PTSD patient is unable to distinguish between similar experiences. Minor threats to their personal safety are perceived as being on the same level as major ones which causes heightened anxiety responses.
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Researchers from the Columbia University Medical Center have been experimenting with activating the dentate gyrus – a part of the hippocampus – to relieve stress in PTSD patients and those with similar anxiety disorders. The researchers inserted light-sensitive proteins called opsins into the dentate gyrus of mice models. They used light from a fiber optic strand to alternately activate and silence both portions of the dentate gyrus for three minute intervals while the mice took part in two anxiety tests.
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The researchers found that stimulating the dorsal dentate gyrus – the area involved in learning – caused the mice to be more interested in investigating their surroundings, but it inhibited their ability to learn. However, when they stimulated the ventral portion – which is involved in anxiety – the animals’ anxiety levels were decreased without interfering with their ability to learn new things. The researchers also discovered that the effects could be reversed. When the they stopped activating the dentate gyrus, the mice returned to their previous states of anxiety.
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From these results, the researchers concluded that there is potential for alleviating anxiety in individuals with anxiety disorders by targeting the ventral dentate gyrus with medication or deep-brain stimulation. The advantage to this kind of targeted therapy is that it makes an immediate impact on behavior and so it could work much faster than current courses of treatment.
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Mindfulness does the same thing naturally and more, much, much, more.
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Posts Tagged ‘MEDITATION’
23 May
Teaching the Brain to Calm Itself By Maria Esposito, MA!!!!!
23 May
Shaila Catherine:…There is the thought, and then there is the knowing of the thought.
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The primary challenge in developing awareness of our thoughts is not recognizing that they are thoughts.You do not need to get rid of thoughts, just cease to believe them. If you are not seduced by the story that they represent, the thoughts will not disturb your mind. Tenzin Palmo, a nun in the Tibetan tradition wrote:
There is the thought, and then there is the knowing of the thought. And the difference between being aware of the thought and just thinking is immense. Normally we are so identified with our thoughts and emotions, that we are them.We are the happiness, we are the anger, we are the fear. We have to learn to step back and know our thoughts and emotions are just thoughts and emotions. They’re just mental states. They’re not solid, they’re transparent.
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A well-settled mind is not devoid of thought, but at the same time it is not seduced by the stories.You needn’t buy into the storyline just because you thought it.
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22 May
Pysch Central:..How Mindfulness Can Mitigate the Cognitive Symptoms of Depression By MARGARITA TARTAKOVSKY, M.S.!!!!!
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Mindfulness, or paying full attention to the present moment, can be very helpful in improving the cognitive symptoms of depression. These debilitating symptoms include distorted thinking, difficulty concentrating and forgetfulness. Cognitive symptoms can impair all areas of a person’s life. For instance, poor concentration can interfere with your job or schoolwork. Negative thoughts can lead to negative emotions, deepening depression.
Focusing on the here and now helps individuals become aware of their negative thoughts, acknowledge them without judgment and realize they’re not accurate reflections of reality, writes author William Marchand, M.D., in his comprehensive book Depression and Bipolar Disorder: Your Guide to Recovery. In it, Dr. Marchand recounts the benefits of mindfulness interventions and provides in-depth information about other psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments.
Through mindfulness, individuals start to see their thoughts as less powerful. These distorted thoughts – such as “I always make mistakes” or “I’m a horrible person” – start to hold less weight. In his book Marchand describes it as “watching ourselves think. We ‘experience’ thoughts and other sensations, but we aren’t carried away by them. We just watch them come and go.”
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) is a group therapy that combines mindfulness principles with cognitive therapy to help prevent relapse in depression. It’s based on mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a program developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn. MBSR includes mindfulness tools, such as meditation, a body scan and hatha yoga, along with education about stress and assertiveness, according to Marchand. (Learn more here.)
MBCT teaches individuals to detach from distorted and negative thinking patterns, which can trigger the return of depression. (Learn more here.)
Studies have suggested that MBCT is a valuable intervention for depression. This recent meta-analysis found that MBCT was highly effective in reducing relapse for major depression. This study found that it was beneficial for individuals currently struggling with depression.
Getting professional treatment for depression is vital. But there are complementary mindfulness practices readers can try on their own. Marchand shared his suggestions below.
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Continued in responses:………….…;
22 May
Fear:…PTSD and fear are coupled in this disorder!!!!!
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Fear is the by product of triggers firing, erupting in panic and anxiety, forcing us to avoid and run. Our defense mechanism, the amygdala picks up dangerous threats linked to our trauma and fires the adrenal stress response for protection.
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We feel fear at this moment in our mind and body. The chemical reactions and pumping of blood to the extremities are real as can be.
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Tunnel vision, loss of fine motor skills, loss of hearing and cognitive confusion follow quickly. Some of us are almost paralyzed with fear at this point, numb and terrified.
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This whole process does not harm us, poses no danger to our organism physically but mentally or emotionally it can be devastating.
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This is the pattern of PTSD arousal and growth. Run away, avoid, dissociate and trauma grows in strength and power.
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Every time we run, PTSD grows stronger, brings more fear to our doorstep.
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Somehow, someway healing happens when we face and navigate this space with awareness.
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Healing is no more than staying present without grasping at this explosion of trauma. Observing this phenomena with awareness, integrates it.
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Using mindfulness as our vehicle, we can stay present and calm as we explore our internal world. Life is so much more than we ever thought, and it is waiting for us to explore, to live freely.
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Fear can change and be our friend, our protector not our enemy.
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We can learn to be friendly with our fear, our adrenal stress response.
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Start today and practice, reclaim life and living fully.
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22 May
Words have enormous impact on self image!!!!
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The cognitive portion of the mind/brain reads words literally for content and meaning.
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A world of difference lies between saying a phrase such as, I am not worthy or I am having the feeling of not being worthy enough.
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Initially, I am not worthy gets judged and filed neatly away in the memory bank. It has life, has been analyzed and filed for future activity and growth.
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This is negative energy and emotion we are creating and nurturing. Be aware.
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Stating, we are having a feeling like unworthiness, is to abstract to file or save.
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It is just a feeling, nothing more, a sensation we correlate into feeling.
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Create this space, name strong emotions as feeling scared.
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21 May
Happiness and Misery and Disposition????????
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I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our dispositions, and not upon our circumstances.
Martha Washington
US wife of George Washington 1759 (1732 – 1802)
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Our attitude and effort is what we control. It allows us to choose where we place our attention, our life.
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21 May
The only difference between a rut and a grave is their dimensions. ~Ellen Glasgow
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Perspective, the ability to observe from a small distance away, allows emotionally charged thought to fade away.
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We sit quietly, focusing on the breath, becoming the breath at times, to calm and steady the mind.
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Thoughts fade when our focus brings clear awareness of now.
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Practice, improve, heal and find opportunity, today.
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So mundane a practice, its power subtle at first, awesome in time.
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18 May
Charlotte Joko Beck, Nothing Special !!!!!!!!!!!
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Awareness is our true self; it’s who we are. So we don’t have to try to develop awareness; we simply need to notice how we block awareness out with our thoughts, fantasies, opinions and our judgments. We’re either in awareness, which is our natural state, or we’re doing something else.
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Be aware which is our natural state to find healing, happiness, life.
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We have done something else our whole lives, time to change, become aware, now.
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The focus on the breath brings us awareness, calm, peace of mind.
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18 May
Has Mara visited you today? September 22, 2012 by Shaila Catherine:
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There is a mythical figure in the Buddhist teachings named Mara. He arrives on the scene in many disguises and disrupts a meditator’s concentration, interferes with the clarity of insight, or tries to seduce the practitioner into wrongful acts. We might see Mara as the personification of hindrances, unskillful impulses, self-doubt, self-destructive habits, and any manifestation of desire, aversion, or ignorance.
Has Mara visited you today?
Perhaps when craving takes hold of the mind and drags you toward the refrigerator, or when anger compels your tongue to shout, or when fear inhibits your ability to make a critical life decision, you might recognize that Mara has found an opportunity. You do not need to be controlled by the forces of Mara. You have some choice.
The next time that you find yourself caught up in a reaction of desire or aversion, you might say “I see you Mara” and take a moment to recognize the desire or see the aversion. Identify them as obstructive forces. By bringing mindfulness to the hindrances throughout the day we gradually weaken these conditioned forces of mind. Mara only thrives in darkness; whenever he is exposed, he vanishes. The light of mindfulness is stronger than obstructive forces. When mindfulness meets obstructions, they weaken, and eventually vanish.
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Shaila has sat in silent retreat an accumulative seven years.
17 May
Where do we have choices in life
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We decide the majority of our life internally and carry this attitude through all the external stimulus we incur.
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For instance, misery, suffering, happiness, sorrow, gratitude, loss, acceptance, awareness and dissociation are under our control.
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I never realized the last statement until I practiced mindfulness, daily.
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I thought I was stuck with horrible days when I woke up in a bad mood.
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We can let whatever mood we wake to, go. Yes, we can release anything and be happy and excited about the day to come.
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It is all we have.
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