Let's literally change your brain

In reviewing new and old books researching how negative thoughts emerge I find myself fascinated (yet again) with how we have the power to change our brains.  In the book Destructive Emotions: How can we overcome them  A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama  it discusses how in the cases of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder the hippocampus actually shrinks.  The theory is that if a person has an emotional disorder, then they have a problem in the hippocampus.

Trauma, major depression, stress are all things that can literally alter our brain.  We have instincts we are born with that allow us to figure out (on our own) what it is we need to heal our brain after such times of stress.  Unfortunately, some of us ignore our instincts to heal and slow down.  Sometimes I get a headache and notice that it seems to come after I have been overworking my brain all day.  Is this my body telling me to slow down?  Maybe meditate?  Pro-longed stress such as posttraumatic stress disorder can alter your brain and therefore (as the theory goes) make it more and more difficult to regulate emotions.

 In the book Traumatic Stress: The Effects of Overwhelming Experience on Mind, Body, and Society the suggestion that trauma results in a "de-differentiation of affect" or a loss of the ability to identify certain emotions that can help with choosing the appropriate response. The book continues to discuss how some with extreme stress have a difficult time creating "semantic constructs to identify somatic states" and this is related to individuals whom act aggressively toward self and others.  In summary, trauma and or extreme stress can lead to "speechless terror" which disrupts the ability to describe feelings with words.

 It is interesting 'brain stuff' research like these that continue to prove how necessary art therapy is when working with clients whom suffer from anxiety, depression and/or trauma.  The generally non-verbal therapeutic approach is a safe way into both the 'story' and beginnings of emotional regulation.  We can change the 'damage' done to our brains due to prolonged stress and/or depression.  I say if you can't afford therapy to help you with this, take up a ceramics class, painting class or listen to music everyday :)  Creative expression does an overworked brain wonders.

 Take care,
Jenny