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Overcoming Fear: Difference between revisions

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==Software: Survival programs==
==Software: Survival programs==
The lower brain or subconscious mind basically runs in three modes: relaxed, fight-flight, and freeze. Again to keep it very simple, we are using a traffic stoplight as a model. (From Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory).


The lower brain or subconscious mind basically runs in three modes: relaxed, fight-flight, and freeze. Again to keep it very simple, we are using a traffic stoplight as a model. (From Stephen Porges, Polyvagal Theory).
[[File:TrafficLight-danger.png|thumb|Relaxed, Fight-Flight, Freeze]]


When we are in green, we are relaxed and our heart and respiration are slow, we can digest our food, we can nap, we enjoy being with loved ones and we can relate to them. The moment the lower brain feels there is danger; it moves the biology into yellow. The vagus nerve shuts down all the organs below the diaphragm, and speeds up the ones above the diaphragm. We get an immediate increase of available energy, or superhuman strength in order to escape danger. This is an amazing thing that the human body can do in a split second. Our bodies were designed to do this for very brief periods of time. We don’t want to get stuck in the danger zone of yellow, where we cannot digest our food, we cannot sleep, and we cannot enjoy or relate to our loved ones. There are usually two reasons we get stuck in fight-flight. We are living in an unsafe situation and the accurate assessment is that we are in danger or feeling threatened. Or we may have an unresolved trauma from the past, which the lower brain feels is happening now, in the present moment.
When we are in green, we are relaxed and our heart and respiration are slow, we can digest our food, we can nap, we enjoy being with loved ones and we can relate to them. The moment the lower brain feels there is danger; it moves the biology into yellow. The vagus nerve shuts down all the organs below the diaphragm, and speeds up the ones above the diaphragm. We get an immediate increase of available energy, or superhuman strength in order to escape danger. This is an amazing thing that the human body can do in a split second. Our bodies were designed to do this for very brief periods of time. We don’t want to get stuck in the danger zone of yellow, where we cannot digest our food, we cannot sleep, and we cannot enjoy or relate to our loved ones. There are usually two reasons we get stuck in fight-flight. We are living in an unsafe situation and the accurate assessment is that we are in danger or feeling threatened. Or we may have an unresolved trauma from the past, which the lower brain feels is happening now, in the present moment.


Being in the Red zone is more rare. This is where the lower brain perceives that the body is not going to survive the experience and shuts it down. The body becomes immobilized to play dead, and is anesthetized to minimize suffering. The consciousness or soul can actually leave the body, be separate or disassociated from it. Again, this is an amazing biological accomplishment as this happens in a split second. We see this with high impact trauma, with early and chronic abuse such as satanic ritual abuse (SRA), and in war and torture. The eyes are vacant the voice is monotone and the body is lifelessly still, meaning there is no fidgeting, gesturing or normal movement in the body.
Being in the Red zone is more rare. This is where the lower brain perceives that the body is not going to survive the experience and shuts it down. The body becomes immobilized to play dead, and is anesthetized to minimize suffering. The consciousness or soul can actually leave the body, be separate or disassociated from it. Again, this is an amazing biological accomplishment as this happens in a split second. We see this with high impact trauma, with early and chronic abuse such as satanic ritual abuse (SRA), and in war and torture. The eyes are vacant the voice is monotone and the body is lifelessly still, meaning there is no fidgeting, gesturing or normal movement in the body.