Bioenergetics
8 views
Skip to first unread message
kurokawa8
Nov 21, 2009, 12:20:24 PM11/21/09
to Alexithymia Exchange
another mind-body therapy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioenergetic_analysis
Looks similar to the Trauma Releasing Exercises.
"Bioenergetic Analysis is rooted in a psychodynamic and body-oriented
theory of development originally described by Lowen. The approach has
expanded to incorporate attachment theory, trauma theory and the
latest findings in the neurosciences in its conceptual frame.
Children learn early in life that they can reduce painful feelings by
holding their breath and tensing muscles to cut off feeling. When
emotional experience is difficult (as it is for many), the holding
patterns become "second nature"--built into the body as chronic
muscular tensions that persist into adulthood. The tensions operate
below awareness and rob the person of a fuller and more vital
experience of life.
For example, a child who is told not to cry clenches his jaw to stop
and tightens his chest to reduce breathing. If the child must
repeatedly control and stop the expression of feeling this way, the
pattern can get locked in the body and the sadness no longer appears.
An adult with this history may have great difficulty accessing tender
or sad feelings because they are locked away in the holding pattern
that is no longer conscious.
The overall pattern of muscular tensions depends on how and when the
tensions developed and the feelings that are being repressed. In his
early writings, Lowen addressed this issue, describing five basic
character structures or types: schizoid, oral, masochistic,
psychopathic and rigid. He later added the narcissistic type to this
list. Each character type develops in response to certain life
experiences and has its own set of body and mind characteristics.
While these character types are highly useful in understanding
character development, the focus in Bioenergetic therapy is always on
the uniqueness of the individual, and not the character type."
Looks similar to the Trauma Releasing Exercises.
"Bioenergetic Analysis is rooted in a psychodynamic and body-oriented
theory of development originally described by Lowen. The approach has
expanded to incorporate attachment theory, trauma theory and the
latest findings in the neurosciences in its conceptual frame.
Children learn early in life that they can reduce painful feelings by
holding their breath and tensing muscles to cut off feeling. When
emotional experience is difficult (as it is for many), the holding
patterns become "second nature"--built into the body as chronic
muscular tensions that persist into adulthood. The tensions operate
below awareness and rob the person of a fuller and more vital
experience of life.
For example, a child who is told not to cry clenches his jaw to stop
and tightens his chest to reduce breathing. If the child must
repeatedly control and stop the expression of feeling this way, the
pattern can get locked in the body and the sadness no longer appears.
An adult with this history may have great difficulty accessing tender
or sad feelings because they are locked away in the holding pattern
that is no longer conscious.
The overall pattern of muscular tensions depends on how and when the
tensions developed and the feelings that are being repressed. In his
early writings, Lowen addressed this issue, describing five basic
character structures or types: schizoid, oral, masochistic,
psychopathic and rigid. He later added the narcissistic type to this
list. Each character type develops in response to certain life
experiences and has its own set of body and mind characteristics.
While these character types are highly useful in understanding
character development, the focus in Bioenergetic therapy is always on
the uniqueness of the individual, and not the character type."
Affects4me
Nov 21, 2009, 2:05:46 PM11/21/09
to Alexithymia Exchange
*************************************************************
In 1978 I tried a short time of seeing a bioenergetics therapist who
didnt know his stuff, but also I had Alex, which doesnt lend itself to
allowing feelings getting thru. Of course it was only in the past 5
years or so that I have actually developed a precise understanding of
what is going on with the Alex condition. I think the real answer
requires using an MDAN, but this wont happen. Still I think it would
be worth while, especially persons willing to try it, which I would
definatly be willing to do. There is no way of knowing the inactive,
dormant MU receptors could be brought back to the active, replenishing
configuration, especially since these have been turned off for some 50
years. Would the RNA within these MU receptors still be able to turn
back on again? This would be worth investigating. First I would take
either MRIs or some form of radioactive tracer with fRMI, to find the
areas showing the existing densitites of MU receptors within the
rACC. Then I would take the MDAN, and afterwards, I would do a second
fRMI, again with the radiotracer, to see if the density of MU
receptors had actually increased. It should also follow that
experientially there would be a greater influx of subjective feelings
being produced, and detected within cortextual consciousness. I
certainly wouldnt want a flood, this would need to be a gradual
opening up. So I think I would want to do a gradual increasing of the
densitiy of the MU receptors, to have the increase in feelings
sensitivity not be too intense, or overwhelming. That would be
counter-productive. If this could actually be achieved, then
cognitive therapy could be useful, maybe gestalt or primal therapy
would be good if this could be reached. But until then, I think the
basic underlying problem still will remain unresolved, as these
dormant MU receptors simply remain still turned off, as these have
been for so very long. And this is what has to actually change, as
the starting point. If this can be done, then the limbic level
feelings could be addressed with cognitive therapies, but until then,
not much will have great effect. So I think you end up living with
it, even though we wont give up, we know we never will.
*************************************************************
In 1978 I tried a short time of seeing a bioenergetics therapist who
didnt know his stuff, but also I had Alex, which doesnt lend itself to
allowing feelings getting thru. Of course it was only in the past 5
years or so that I have actually developed a precise understanding of
what is going on with the Alex condition. I think the real answer
requires using an MDAN, but this wont happen. Still I think it would
be worth while, especially persons willing to try it, which I would
definatly be willing to do. There is no way of knowing the inactive,
dormant MU receptors could be brought back to the active, replenishing
configuration, especially since these have been turned off for some 50
years. Would the RNA within these MU receptors still be able to turn
back on again? This would be worth investigating. First I would take
either MRIs or some form of radioactive tracer with fRMI, to find the
areas showing the existing densitites of MU receptors within the
rACC. Then I would take the MDAN, and afterwards, I would do a second
fRMI, again with the radiotracer, to see if the density of MU
receptors had actually increased. It should also follow that
experientially there would be a greater influx of subjective feelings
being produced, and detected within cortextual consciousness. I
certainly wouldnt want a flood, this would need to be a gradual
opening up. So I think I would want to do a gradual increasing of the
densitiy of the MU receptors, to have the increase in feelings
sensitivity not be too intense, or overwhelming. That would be
counter-productive. If this could actually be achieved, then
cognitive therapy could be useful, maybe gestalt or primal therapy
would be good if this could be reached. But until then, I think the
basic underlying problem still will remain unresolved, as these
dormant MU receptors simply remain still turned off, as these have
been for so very long. And this is what has to actually change, as
the starting point. If this can be done, then the limbic level
feelings could be addressed with cognitive therapies, but until then,
not much will have great effect. So I think you end up living with
it, even though we wont give up, we know we never will.
*************************************************************
kurokawa8
Nov 21, 2009, 2:42:49 PM11/21/09
to Alexithymia Exchange
thanks for the share. Bioenergetics is off my radar for the moment
while I have SE going on so I might check in to it later...it seems to
have developed over the years so perhaps its more effective now.
I would hope that the function blocked by dormant MU receptors could
somehow be overcome by the plasticity of the brain, with naturally
occuring adult stem cells in particular. Is this mind over body or
body over mind? Either way if indeed my MU receptors are damaged
brain plasticity is my faith that I can someday experience emotions.
My mission in life is like Data from Star Trek; to become human.
while I have SE going on so I might check in to it later...it seems to
have developed over the years so perhaps its more effective now.
I would hope that the function blocked by dormant MU receptors could
somehow be overcome by the plasticity of the brain, with naturally
occuring adult stem cells in particular. Is this mind over body or
body over mind? Either way if indeed my MU receptors are damaged
brain plasticity is my faith that I can someday experience emotions.
My mission in life is like Data from Star Trek; to become human.
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages