Rediscovering Truth and Transcending Limiting Core Beliefs

Returning to the Source:

The process of somatic healing and nervous system restoration involves a courageous return to the source—the origins of our limiting core beliefs. As we explore the sensitivities within our nervous system and sensations held within our bodies, we gain access to the implicit memories and emotions that shape our beliefs about ourselves and the world. By acknowledging these truths, we open the door to transformation and liberation.

Understanding how our childhood experiences shape our stress responses is pivotal in transcending these beliefs and fostering profound personal growth

This piece delves into the intricacies of early development, exploring how the imprints of our past become woven into the fabric of our stress response system. Tracking these experiences in the body involves cultivating somatic and interoceptive awareness, where sensations become signposts of healing intelligence, guiding us toward relief. Our stress response is about avoiding reexperiencing a certain survival decision.

Early Development and Absorption of Experiences: In childhood, the human brain is a complex and dynamic landscape undergoing rapid development. During this critical period, our brains are not fully mature, rendering us highly impressionable and receptive to the experiences that shape our understanding of the world. Trauma-informed practitioners emphasize that adverse experiences during these formative years can imprint on our bodies, influencing our stress response system in profound ways. 

Attachment to the Stress Response: Our stress response system, governed by the autonomic nervous system, develops alongside our cognitive and emotional faculties. Early traumatic experiences become ingrained in our bodies, forming a symbiotic relationship with our stress response. For instance, a child exposed to chronic neglect may develop a heightened “fight or flight” response, constantly primed to protect themselves in the face of perceived threats.

Examples of Limiting Core Beliefs and Associated Stress Responses:

1. Fight Response – Belief: “I Am Not Safe”
   • Example: A child growing up in an unpredictable and volatile environment may internalize the belief that the world is inherently unsafe. In adulthood, situations that trigger this belief can activate the fight response, manifesting as heightened defensiveness, aggression, or a strong need for control.
2. Flight Response – Belief: “I Am Not Worthy”
   • Example: A child who experiences consistent emotional neglect or rejection may form the belief that they are unworthy of love and attention. As adults, situations that echo this belief may activate the flight response, leading to patterns of avoidance, seeking validation externally, or constantly striving for perfection.
3. Freeze Response – Belief: “I Am Helpless”
   • Example: Children exposed to chronic or severe stressors may internalize a belief in their own helplessness. In adulthood, situations reminiscent of their past trauma can trigger the freeze response, resulting in emotional numbness, dissociation, or a tendency to become paralyzed in the face of challenges.
4. Fawn Response – Belief: “I Must Please Others to Be Safe”
   • Example: A child raised in an environment where their needs are consistently dismissed may develop the belief that safety lies in pleasing others. As adults, situations triggering this belief may activate the fawn response, leading to excessive people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, and a constant fear of rejection.

Transcending Limiting Core Beliefs: Trauma-informed healing involves acknowledging the deep-seated beliefs rooted in early experiences, attached to our autonomic nervous system and consciously working towards their transcendence. This process often necessitates a compassionate exploration of the ways in which our stress responses are intimately tied to these beliefs. We will do anything not to re-experience this felt sense of a perceived or real life and death situation. We have a low or sensitive stress threshold for circumstances that interact with our negative and limiting core beliefs. We do everything we can to avoid re-experiencing the core belief as true. The real truth is the core belief was a survival decision that felt life-threatening at the time and the stress response was our attempt to avoid the overwhelming level of lack of safety we felt at a deep core level within our being.

Conclusion: As science, healing, and awareness come together, understanding CPTSD at a neurobiological level empowers individuals to embark on a trauma-informed healing journey. As we navigate the terrain of self-discovery,  it is essential to recognize the interplay between the mind and body and recognize that our limiting core beliefs are not insurmountable. 

By understanding the developmental roots of our stress and trauma stress responses and the beliefs they embody, we pave the way for intentional healing, offering a profound pathway to liberation and transformation. Through the framework of the nervous system,  compassionate self-reflection, and trauma-informed practices, we embark on transcending limiting core beliefs, fostering resilience, and reclaiming agency over our somatic and subconscious narratives. As we navigate the inner somatic landscape, we rediscover the resilience of the human spirit and the untapped potential for growth and renewal that lies within us all to finally restore safety to the overwhelmed nervous system.

 

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