It Is What It Is --- it is what it . . . was

In interesting conversation with a patient led us into the function of the 'subconscious mind' and the nervous system.

The nervous system acts "as if." That means that if there is an experience registered in memory that is not resolved or completed (like we are stuck there emotionally) then whenever something comes up that integrates the experience of that past event, the nervous system (and the subconscious mind) act as if that past event is current. It always sees it as current, not as past.

For example, when you are walking up the stairs you move your legs and knees differently than when you are walking across a flat floor, and both of those are different than when you are swimming. If there is an unresolved (traumatic) experience of climbing stairs when you were on a striped carpet, whenever you come to a striped carpet in the future your nervous system will want to move your legs in a way that is appropriate to climbing stairs. The only problem comes if the striped carpet you are on currently is on a flat hallway.

That is definitely a way simplified example, but it demonstrates the principle.

It is why we often do things or respond in ways - chemically, physically and emotionally - that are contrary to what we want to do consciously, but we seem to have no control over it.

This simple understanding of connecting how the past effects the present on a neurological level is the first step to fixing those undesirable reactions that just won't go away!

The possibilities are endless . . .