Lose the Battle

Last time, I mentioned misapplied effort. There is a popular urban legend which exemplifies this. It is about a soldier who remains hidden for decades after the war has ended. I think the story is popular, and apt, because we all battle on, at times, when the need to fight to survive has passed. Neurofeedback relieves us of this misapplied effort, not by vanquishing the enemy, rather, it shows us the treaty has been signed.

“In 1974 a Japanese soldier who either had not heard or did not believe the surrender order issued by his government on August 16, 1945 wandered out of the Philippine jungle into the postwar world...” This actual news story is typical, of this type of legend, but also of what happens to our brains when we are scared or wounded. The soldier is not crazy, his mind is not damaged. After all, he had good reason to be scared, and to be suspicious of letting his guard down. It is not that his defenses were inappropriate, that his fear was unfounded, or that he was incompetent. The main problem is that his world view was stuck out-of date. He was either relying on old information, or refusing to incorporate new information into his perspective.

This is a perfect model for what happens in our brains. Growing up in an imperfect world, nobody escapes scary situations, and physical and emotional wounding. There can be a real necessity to defend ourselves or fight in order to survive or escape further injury. These fight, flight, and freeze mechanisms often include the same strategy unwittingly used by the soldier: hiding; closing down the free flow of painful information from our current situation. Even though the situation which caused us pain is long-gone, we still feel hurt and afraid. We cover our eyes. But hiding from the ever-changing present, can only leave us with the recreation of an inaccurate reality based on the past. The same past where the pain originated. You can see the catch-22 there. Unfortunately, if we cannot accurately attend to the discomfort, and sometimes we cannot, we don't know when it's over.

Neurologically, there is a different pattern in our brains during moments of non-acceptance and fabrication, than during moments of open receiving. The primary difference is the amount of effort required. Maintaining the struggle, even if the battle is over, is labor intensive. It is even more inefficient than it is expensive, because it also creates a need to do more, to work harder. On the other hand, noticing, feeling, and awareness is effortless. We don't have to try to notice a car's horn, a tap on the shoulder, or sautéing garlic. Our human equipment is designed for it, and it happens without our purposeful direction, though we can inhibit the process. Although we are designed to be aware, uncomfortable events can inhibit our openness. At those moments when our stuckness rears up, when we cover our eyes, neurofeedback arrives as a repeated invitation to the present. “See for yourself!" it says. The battle is over. You may keep your weapons, if you still feel the need. But, please check to see if you do. Very sensitively tuned in to evidence that the brain is working too hard interpreting and making up story, the feedback cuts in. It compels us to include what's real, what's present, into the world as we see it. In the story above, the only information the soldier will trust, is the word of his commanding officer. Neurofeedback gives us information, not on a rational, but on a gut-level. Because when we feel we can't let go, we create stories to support that, and don't trust concepts to make us feel safe. We only trust the gut-feeling, the command of the actual experience of being safe. And neurofeedback takes us there.

If you're tired, but can't seem to stop the inner conflict, call for a trial session. $25 until April 30th; 508.737.6066.