Happiness isn’t brain surgery: Understanding the mind body connection

Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery

Happiness Isn’t Brain Surgery:The Mind-Body

ConnectionDr. Dawn-Elise Snipes PhD, LPC-MHSM, LMHC, NCC

Executive Director, AllCEUsHost, Counselor Toolbox

President, Recovery and Resilience International


Objectives Learn about your central control center, the

brain What role does it play in

Emotions Thoughts Physical Reactions/Sensations

How things can go wrong How to fix those things


The Brain Your central control center

Takes in information Compares it to what it already knows (or

thinks it knows) from prior experiences Makes a decision about what to do.

Based on that decision it activates action centers which excrete neurotransmitters in order to produce the desired reaction.


Neurotransmitters Chemical messengers take “orders” to

and from the brain through the nervous system

The Big 6 fall into 3 main categories Excitatory: Dopamine, Norepinepherine,

Glutamate Inhibitory: GABA, Serotonin Neuromodulator: Acetylcholine


Neurotransmitters Function Emotional

Happiness Sadness Anger Fear

Mental Concentration Learning Decision Making

Physical Sleep behavior Eating behavior Libido Gastrointestinal

Functioning/motility Pain perception


Neurotransmitters cont… An imbalance in neurotransmitters will cause

emotional, mental, or physical “distress” What causes imbalances

Too much “stress” for too long Poor nutrition Insufficient sleep Addictive behaviors


Your Stress Sensor: Peripheral Nervous System

Your nervous system continues to feed the brain information about whether the threat is: Continuing and something else needs

to be done Subsiding and your brain can tell your

body to relax.


How does all this happen? How does the brain “know” what is

threatening?

Lets find out…


The Brain When you were born, there were very few

things that were “meaningful” You assigned meaning to things through

observation and experience When something happens you compare it to

prior experiences to decide what to do


The Brain

Unfortunately until about age 7 children’s interpretation of behavior is: Centric—Based on one thing at a time Concrete All-or-nothing Egocentric


The Brain Interpretations are only as good as:

The information coming inThe prior knowledge

Things that are learned in early childhood need to be re-examined as we grow

Once you were in middle school you could be taught to start Considering multiple aspects of a situation Using abstract reasoning (Looking for other

interpretations of events)


Example 1 Child brings home report card

Child hears negative messages from a parentWhy did you get a C, I know you are not that stupid.Why can’t you do anything right?

Child interpretsAll-or-Nothing: I cannot do anything to make my parent

proud. Egocentric: I am not lovable.

Future behaviorsDesperately seeking approvalFears of abandonment


Example 1 Alternative Child brings home report card

Child hears neutral or positive messages from a parentWhy did you get a C in math? It seems like you might need some

help in that subject.You are really smart and a good student, what is causing you

difficulty? Child Interpretation

All-or-nothing needs to be refocused to specificsEgocentric & Single focused needs to be broadened to the big

picture Future behaviors

Child starts learning to examine specific behaviorsChild is able to identify strengths and weaknesses


Example 2 Parent abandons the family

Child interpretsMy parent has to love me. My parent left. My parent must hate me. I am unlovable.

Result: Adult feeling inadequate, fearing abandonment and seeking external validation that was not received from parent


Example 2 Parents divorce but have shared custody

Child interpretsMy parent has to love me. My parent is still in my life.My parent will always be there for me.

Result: Adult feeling adequate and able to provide internal

validationAdult feeling secure in relationships (even if

someone goes away they will be back)


Example 3 Child witnesses domestic violence

Child sees mom get hurt and “make” Daddy drink and hit her because she “makes” him mad.

Child hears father criticizing mother and telling her how useless she is

Child interprets: If I do not do absolutely everything right I will be unlovable and useless.


Example 3 Future behaviors

Shrouded in fear of failure either causing the person to refuse to try, or to be a perfectionist.

Fears of abandonmentNeed for external validationChild has learned that he or she is responsible for

other’s feelings and behaviors


What’s the Point Much of your anxiety and distress comes from

Faulty interpretations of prior experiences creating faulty interpretations of present experiences

The brain using outdated experiences Negative Messages = Threat Stress Reaction When you constantly bombard yourself with

negative messages Your body constantly perceives a threat You are on “high alert” all the time Exhaustion,

depression, hopelessness & helplessness


Summary The brain is your central control center Through observation and experience it

“learns” what is okay and what is threatening

Things that were threatening or misinterpreted in the past may now need to be re-examined

By addressing those old, unhelpful thoughts and interpretations you can reduce physical and mental stress and anxiety.

Healthcare

Happiness isn’t brain surgery: Understanding the mind body connection