Brain

June 20, 2015

Gray’s BAS/BIS Theory

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  • Proposes that personality is based on the interaction of two basic systems in the brain:

1. Behavioral Activation System (BAS): The accelerator (“hit the gas”)

– Impulsivity, novelty seeking, sensitivity to rewards and motivation to seek rewards.

–Attraction to a person or a cookie and a desire to approach the person or cookie, especially a “new” one?

  • High BAS = Lots of positive affect (PA); Low BAS = Less PA
  • High BAS = Impulsive; Low BAS = Reserved and Careful
  • High BAS = Extraversion; Low BAS = Introversion

BAS = Left Frontal Lobe:

  • Active while experiencing positive emotion (happiness).

2. Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS): “Hitting the brakes”. Sensitivity to potential punishment and motivation to avoid punishment.

–Fear of rejection by someone you fancy or fear of a snake and the motivation to avoid these things comes from this system.

-Avoidance of people, places, and situations that have the perception of causing potential pain?

  • High BIS = negative emotions (fear, anxiety)
  • High BIS = inhibits movement toward goals
  • High BIS = High Neuroticism; Low BIS = Low Neuroticism

But……Low BIS also = High Psychoticism

BIS = Right Frontal Lobe:

  • Active while experiencing negative emotion (fear, anxiety).
  • Active when presented with an incentive.

How does this effect behavior and coping methods? Can it be the underlying mental processing that fuels addictive behavior, especially when deeper obsessive and compulsive patterns emerge?

January 23, 2015

Inner Voice IV

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Part IV of a series on Empowering Language Patterns:

Get rid of the word “TRY” in your vocabulary. “Try” pre-frames going through the motions. It gives us not only permission to fail but permission to exert efforts of far less than 100%.

Quit using the word CAN’T or add to the word can’t…“do it yet” which shifts it to the place of possibilities instead of no possibility. Ask yourself …What would happen if I could? What will happen when I do? This will shift the negative limiting belief as you visualize or imagine!

STAY AWAY FROM GENERALIZATIONS – they are all lies… “always” and “never” “hardly ever” are absolutes that only exist in our mind. Generalizations discount our belief in our personal possibilities. They also undercut our faith in humanity and the power to change and grow.

Remove the word “DON’T” from our speech patterns, because whatever happens next in the sentence comes across as a command to “do it”   Example, “Don’t stop” “Don’t tell” “Don’t eat the cake” This is literally how our brain functions. Our brain dysfunctions in regular patterns. We fool our brain all the time and it fools us!

Examples of brain dysfunction:

  • Negative hallucinations – (not seeing , hearing or feeling what is there) Honey, where are the keys. What did you do with the keys?
  • Positive hallucinations – (seeing, hearing or feeling what is not real) imagine someone is talking about us…. imagine the boogie man under the bed.
  • Time distortions – The three hours waiting in line at the bank was really 30 minutes, or the 5 hours at the wonderful party seemed like 30 minutes.

“The fact that we already fool ourselves, means we are capable of doing it in a positive way. We already have these skills, we just need to use them to our benefit.”

LETS LEARN TO HAVE OUR BRAIN SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS INSTEAD OF SABOTAGE THEM!

December 13, 2013

Oxytocin

Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a safe and potent supplement based on the naturally occurring hormone Oxytocin. It has far reaching benefits for the body and mind, including the ability to enhance emotional connection and experiences. Oxytocin for men assists emotional bonding as well as balanced moods. Oxytocin can give a sense of well-being and relaxation to both women and men, lowering anxiety and elevating moods.

The hormone Oxytocin is probably best known for its role in childbirth and breastfeeding, although research has established that Oxytocin can help forge deep connections with our partners, our children, our friends and even our pets.

Oxytocin however, is more than merely a male or female hormone. It plays many roles for men, and in women is an essential hormone released throughout their lives in certain conditions and scenarios linked with love, affection, and peace.

A naturally occurring hormone in our body

Oxytocin is produced by the hypothalamus – the almond sized region of the brain located close to the brain stem that links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland. It’s released either via the pituitary gland straight into the bloodstream or to other parts of the brain and the spinal cord.

In childbirth, Oxytocin plays a vital role in triggering and regulating uterine contractions. If the contractions aren’t substantial enough, in a lot of cases Oxytocin is administered to help stimulate these contractions. Not only does this have a physical effect, but Oxytocin is a known as a ‘bonding hormone’ – ensuring that the mother starts to care for her young the moment after giving birth. The emotional and maternal reaction is heightened by the hormone, and the effects establish a bond between mother and baby.

Oxytocin also features in breast feeding. By helping the mother to relax, it allows milk to flow to feed her baby. Through this, scientists and doctors started to take note, as the relaxing and wellbeing effects became apparent.

Research also revealed that Oxytocin plays a huge role in the non-procreative aspects of sex. Both women and men release the Oxytocin hormone during lovemaking – and not only during orgasm. It also appears to be responsible for causing orgasms in the first place.

Some effects of Oxytocin

Connectedness and intimacy can cause a chain reaction within the body, including the release of endorphins and testosterone, which results in both biological and psychological arousal.

Oxytocin’s further health and wellbeing benefits

Using Oxytocin can also help regulate sleep patterns, and have a calming effect. Research is ongoing but observation seems to cite Oxytocin’s health giving benefits lying in its ability to counteract stress and the effects of the stress hormone cortisol. Nearly every disease and condition is aggravated by stress; anything that can help counteract the stress is therefore useful.

Oxytocin has a clear physical and emotional power. Not only does the hormone increase connectedness and belonging in men and women, it has the natural ability to generate meaningful bonds, calm and in turn increase personal wellbeing.

Oxytocin can be used to balance the brain during recovery and assists in reconnecting to self and others.

http://www.balancehealthsystems.com