I think
we can all agree that intolerance is getting worse in our country and perhaps
is spreading like an epidemic. A recent AP poll has found that racism has
actually increased in this country in the last four years since we’ve had an
African-American president. The same poll found that negative attitudes towards
Hispanics has increased as well. Bullying in our schools and neighborhoods is
more rampant than ever. Kids who are diverse in any way – disabled, homosexual
and those of a different ethnic origin – are reporting more incidents of
harassment than ever. There are certainly numerous causes for this increase in
intolerance towards diversity, but as a stress expert, I want to explore the
role of stress and unprocessed memories in this etiology of intolerance. And,
most importantly, these questions: Is there something that can be done about
this growing problem? Do mental health professionals have a technology that can
help?
To gain a basic understanding of what happens
during stress and trauma, consider this scenario: A child is surrounded by the
security of his home environment.
Suddenly, the serenity is shattered by the frightening sounds of mom and
dad fighting. The child’s two heroes, the only dependable sources of security
in his life, are having a knock-down-drag-out.
This scares and overwhelms the child, and his reflexive emotional
reactions are fear and anxiety. His heart pounds and breathing is rapid. He
wants to flee, to retreat to a safe place, but there is nowhere to hide.
Luckily, the fighting subsides and mom and dad
approach their child to soothe his frazzled nerves: "It's just a little
disagreement honey. Everything is okay." This nurturing is helpful, and
for the moment, he can let go of the trauma.
But the brain has an important job to do: It stores this fear-provoking
experience in a memory network that’s coded “dangerous altercations".
Imagine the multitude of times this danger
signal becomes activated in childhood.
After years of labeling, storing and coping with stress, our brains have
developed numerous networks of memories to remind, prepare and protect us from
future threats. And there are billions
of brain cells devoted to this task.
As adults, relationship conflict may trigger
the activation of this same neural network and avoidance/flight becomes the
norm. The distinction between past and present threat is blurred. As far as our
brains are concerned, we are still in danger and escape may be our only mode of
survival.
In
a case of chronic conflict avoidance, a therapist who practices EMDR therapy
(mentioned in an earlier blog) encourages the individual to call up and hold
the threatening memory while focusing on a compelling stimulus (a finger moving
rapidly in front of his\her eyes)? The dual task – paying attention and calling
up a memory – is inherently difficult for the brain. And, when memory and
focused attention occur together, the dual stimulation seems to weaken the
negative memory. This neural pathway to therapeutic success is one of several
theories that are currently being investigated to help explain the rapid
success of eye movement therapy.
A dual attention task like eye movements, when
used by a qualified clinician as part of a comprehensive, eight step treatment
plan, speeds up the process of change. Every
facet of therapy is accelerated: insight into problems, connecting past to
present, the release of powerful emotions, relaxation and behavior change.
The eye movements (and other dual attention
maneuvers developed by Dr. Francine Shapiro) have a way of breaking into the
neural network of the brain that holds dysfunctional memories. Once the clinician breaks into the network,
the data spring to life. And when this
"release" takes place, resolution is not far behind. According to
Shapiro, the memory has been successfully reprocessed.
In my next blog, I will discuss the
potential use of EMDR therapy to tackle the growing problem of intolerance.
Visit my blog, www.drparrino.com, to read my article on this fascinating
procedure: Stress Relief Benefits of Reprocessing Bad Memories.
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