Psychotherapy, once reserved for the mentally ill, has evolved into an opportunity to discover what keeps us from living joyous, pleasurable lives and finding ways to get what we want in life. More than ever, in these days of great uncertainty, there is good reason to develop connection, confidence, clarity and consciousness. Our adult behavior is largely based on childhood experiences and perceptions.
As children, we are dependent, needy and vulnerable. Children protect themselves from hurt and pain by developing defenses. Defenses are instinctive, automatic, and help us survive, however, they dampen the spirit. As adults, we are better prepared to take care of ourselves but now, those entrenched defenses can block us from what we want in life.
Examples of defensive behavior are: withdrawal, denial, rage, despair, masking, controlling behavior, judgment of ourselves and others, dependency, jealousy, resentment, inadequacy, and blaming. Defenses are both outer and inner directed. Although some defense is necessary, too much defense closes us off to ourselves as well as others.
As children, we are dependent, needy and vulnerable. Children protect themselves from hurt and pain by developing defenses. Defenses are instinctive, automatic, and help us survive, however, they dampen the spirit. As adults, we are better prepared to take care of ourselves but now, those entrenched defenses can block us from what we want in life.
Examples of defensive behavior are: withdrawal, denial, rage, despair, masking, controlling behavior, judgment of ourselves and others, dependency, jealousy, resentment, inadequacy, and blaming. Defenses are both outer and inner directed. Although some defense is necessary, too much defense closes us off to ourselves as well as others.
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Trauma is an event of overwhelming experience to one's self or observing it in another.
The devastation results from the inability to integrate the experience intellectually, emotionally and physically.
Responses to trauma are 1) fight 2) flight and 3) freeze.
When fight or flight are not perceived as options, freeze becomes the only alternative.
When we freeze, energy which wanted to protect us, gets trapped.
The cycle of perceiving fear and our ability to respond to the threat in an effective way gets truncated.
The devastation results from the inability to integrate the experience intellectually, emotionally and physically.
Responses to trauma are 1) fight 2) flight and 3) freeze.
When fight or flight are not perceived as options, freeze becomes the only alternative.
When we freeze, energy which wanted to protect us, gets trapped.
The cycle of perceiving fear and our ability to respond to the threat in an effective way gets truncated.
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