Using Reflexes to Heal & Regenerate

It is common for people beginning to look at developmental resources to underestimate their full usefulness. For example, infant reflexes should not be retained into childhood and beyond. They may come out of integration during trauma. Some novices see this as “bad”. However, when infant reflexes are reactivated, nature is offering an opportunity, if we take it. If we return to the movements and postures that developed our original ability, we can heal using the original process that developed the ability in the first place. Then one can return to integration.

For example: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSS) usually brings the Moro Reflex out of integration. Originally for the individual, the Moro Reflex may have been weakly integrated and therefore quickly becomes unintegrated under traumatic stress. By starting a program that allows a person to just relax in the positions of Moro #1 and Moro #2, as well as adding the development resource of sustained deep pressure, an adult can recapture the original moment of development for regulation.

This may not be all that is needed for re-integration, but it can be a healthy start. It is common that one or the other will not in the beginning feel entirely comfortable. This activity gives the Upper and Lower Brains time to adjust and rewire. At first the body-brain system may only want to stay in the positions for as little as 15 seconds. Tune in and gently encourage the system to lengthen the time, over a number of days. Two minutes in the postures seems to be a favored amount of time, although some prefer up to 10 minutes in each position. More time in a posture is not necessarily better. Check in (see earlier posts on checking in) and listen to what you Lower Brain and body are trying to communicate. Attempt to ignore the chattering Upper Brain. Relax your joints and muscles as much a possible in the postures. Let images and thoughts come and go without reaction.

Next week, I will post the pictures for the postures!