Ashok can you please explain Stres response in Session 4

[niaholt]

Hi Ashok,
I have been listening to Session 4 again and looked at the figure 8 section in which you stated that initially Symptoms send a message to the Amygdala that there is something wrong with the body, then it sends a message to the Conscious mind which in turn sends back for validation to the Amygdala to say .... Yes there is a problem in the body and then in step 5 an adrenaline Stress response takes place.

Now can you please answer this for me.? I have this pumping adrenaline response going on a lot of the time WITHOUT any negative thoughts about my body. Most times it is Ok if I just lay down or sit peacefully...movement sends an adrenaline response. I only have to turn over in bed at 2am, wake up or stand up, greet a a neighbour at the door, bend down or just go try to get dinner or just walk around. Worse AM.

Then it sometimes calms down when it knows there is no stranger at the door, or no problem if I turn over, or make dinner. etc
My heart Dr. told me to carry on and forget it is happening and I have done just that.. Having listened to this disc again I am wondering if I should be watching out for it so as to do ARs on it. But then I am concentrating on it and it is a response supposedly AFTER a symptom thought of which I have not had.?

I would be doing ARs all day some days as the adrenaline is pumping full time which is exhausting. Is this a symptom then even if the adrenaline response does not come after thinking of symptoms. I feel my body is stuck on emergency alert. It has a mind of its own, reacting to simple things like just waking up. Hope you can fill me in as to what I should do.

Thanks
Nia

[Recovery Soon]

I know you are asking for Ashok's opinion, and hopefully he'll see this and answer for you. But I think this might be helpful.

On some rare occasions I also experience what you have have mentioned, and it usually lasts for a couple days. I think your analysis is correct that your system is continuously reacting to itself, independent of thoughts which have reached your conscious mind.

Given all that is stated in the program I would say your best bet during these periods is to use soften and flow quite frequently on these sensations (in addition to the meditations), and only use the STOP technique on thoughts which have reached your conscious mind. If you are concerned about the reactions, that would be time to do a STOP, but not just because you are experiencing adrenaline, otherwise you would be STOPPING 24/7, like you said.

You can't interrupt thoughts you are not aware of. SO the only thing left to do is embrace the uncomfortable feelings, using the S&F.

Based on the GAR theory, this approach should help retrain your mind to accept that the adrenaline sensations are not harmful to you. That, in theory, will lessen their occurrence.

Hope this is helpful.

[niaholt]

Thanks Recovery Soon,
I appreciate your input. I was heartened in Claire Weeks book when she said people recovering from nervous illnesses can still be improving even though the heart rate has not settled.

I feel this is holding me back as it is hard not to notice it as my BP goes very high sometimes and then I panic as my DR has when I last visited. I had stopped checking my pulse, but now seem to do it again as I think I should so it will tell me to go and meditate (sometimes I am unaware it is raging). Other times I get caught up with daily life and then suddenly feel breathless and uptight and still the penny does not drop to go and meditate. Other times then I get paranoid about it all......I see I am jumping all over the place with this.

I think your strategy is right and I dont think I have been doing S&F enough, only when things tip over the edge. I will concentrate more on S&F for this and every time I check my pulse I will do the STOPS.

I generally do heaps of meditation, sleep with Ashok in my ear....best sleeping pill yet. But I have to learn to stay awake a bit more lately.