What Factors Affect our Emotions?

Transcription

1 What Factors Affect our Emotions? This hand out is for your personal use only. All content and photos are copyright to Dr Isla Fishburn, (unless credited to a third party). You may not share, copy, or use the content in your own talks or seminars etc. Without her permission. Slide 1 What Factors Affect Our Emotions? Dr Isla Fishburn Kachina Canine Communication Slide 2 What Are Emotions? Emotions are the result of a long history of evolutionary fine tuning and are an individual s biological tool kit for survival; their role is to assist in life The fundamental need of any animal is to stay alive. Emotions drive the animals responses of safety or danger. Emotions are biochemical responses that Photo courtesy of Alison McHendry alter the internal environment due to experiences with the external environment; everything that we see, hear, smell, taste will create a biochemical response (Antonio Damasio) In humans, thought also creates a change in the biochemical responses of an individual These responses are forever changing in response to an ever changing environment and experiences within. Slide 3 Emotions & Homeostatic Feedback Emotions have a regulatory role to protect the self. They seek out the pursuit of one emotion happiness. Happiness/pleasure is the ultimate homeostatic purpose of emotions; a physiological reaction that is needed to maintain balance and avoid unpleasant emotions (Antonio Damasio) Emotions reside physically in our bodies and interact with our cells and tissues (Candace Pert) Maintaining the Relaxation Response (RR): Relaxation is a normal function of NS and is a primitive response to allow the body to respond to stress by becoming more alert. An animal s body is programmed to rest deeply for recuperation, to regain energy and prepare body for next stressor. The RR is governed by the PNS which allows for restoration and recuperation. If the body is exposed to too much stress or is in a constant state of arousal then the body will not be able to flow energetically. To allow for activation of the relaxation response we must consider an organism s natural orienting response to avoid activation of the stress/threat response

2 Slide 4 Emotions and Energy Emotions are energy through changes in the organism s biochemistry. As an emotion generates energy it too generates electricity. Energy is everywhere. Everything that is alive pulsates with energy and all of this energy contains information the dog s biography becomes its biology (Caroline Myss). Picture taken from We are constantly in communication with everything around us as the body pulsates with changes in emotional states it is electricity that transmits and receives messages to and from the experiences. Each individual has its own energy signature involving an integrated circuit of energy, biochemistry, and electricity in which body and mind are unified and the promotion of health is at all levels. The health and vitality of one aspect of the system can be felt throughout the whole due to energetic, chemical, neurological and psychic connections (the WHOLE Self) Slide 5 Emotions & Energy Cellular Response A B C D E E Quantum/E insteinian A B D C Newtonian Animals are networks of complex energy fields that interface with physical/cellular systems...these systems are powerfully affected by emotions, spiritual balance, nutrition and env. factors Richard Gerber The whole body is an organ of perception, constantly receiving updates that alter cellular responses (Bruce Lipton) Slide 6 To stay alive and remain or regain balance; survival-orientated behaviours Two functions of emotions: Why do we need emotions? (1) to produce a specific reaction to the situation (e.g. move away from a threat or engage in play with a companion). (2) to regulate the internal state of the organism to be prepared for the said reaction, above (e.g. increased blood flow to arteries for muscles to receive more oxygen and glucose) An animal has the means to respond to certain stimuli particularly those that are potentially useful or potentially dangerous from the point of view of survival As an individual develops and interacts, the animal gains factual and emotional experience with different objects and situations in the environment. The animal has an opportunity to learn about something and how this affects it survival Survival depends on finding and incorporating sources of energy and on preventing all sorts of situations which threaten the survival of life

3 Slide 7 What Affects Our Emotions? Anything and everything - the range of stimuli that can potentially induce emotions is infinite. The individual s biography of emotions creates that individuals biology at a cellular level (biography becomes biology Caroline Myss) Emotional responses are shaped in each individual by a unique development and environment individual energy signature Every experience is accompanied by some reaction from the emotional tool kit. Every experience leads to some emotional reaction and the body s cells strive for positive experiences. These positive experiences connect to the fundamental need and value of homeostatic regulation; pleasure or pain; approach or withdrawal; play or defend Pleasure (the homeostatic regulation) allows an organism to develop in all aspects of its health psychological, physiological, physical and spiritual. This increases the opportunity of survival and vulnerability. Slide 8 E-motions & Behaviour Effective Survival Primal emotions: Seeking/Pleasure Frustration/Rage/Anger Fear/Anxiety Care Giving/Maternal Sexual attraction/lust Grief/Sadness Prey chase drive (fixed behaviour but motivation varies) Curiosity/interest/anticipation Primary social emotions: Separation distress (warmth, hungry, lonely) Social attachment Play and roughhousing (e.g. happiness, pleasure) Slide 9 Intrauterine environment Intrauterine position & character Genetics & Development Maternal effect/paternal effect and epigenetics Selection pressure DNA abnormalaties Natural predispositions What Can Affect Emotions? Breeding environment and conditions (e.g. early introductions to promote positive emotions and prevent stagnation and cellular blocks) Orienting response and de-sensitising Photo courtesy of Eileen Clayton

4 Slide 10 What Can Affect Emotions? Dis-ease Other than physical trauma, emotional and spiritual stresses or dis-eases can be the root cause of physical illnesses and can correspond with certain problems in certain parts of the body To create disease, negative emotions have to become the dominant emotion (but consider diet) The energy and electricity generated in the body is embodied and recorded in the body. This can cause blockages, illness, inflammation Pain is not an emotion per se but is a consequence of a state of local dysfunction in a living tissue pain can alter the biochemical response of an animal (e.g. vulnerable, tired, irritable, angry, fearful etc) Slide 11 What Can Affect Emotions? Diet/Gut Health Good nutrition is important for supporting biochemical responses (e.g. neurotransmitters, emotional energy in prey, nutritional anxiety ) Intolerances or inappropriate diet can affect emotional states (e.g. irritability, discomfort, partially broken down neurotransmitters, starvation at a cellular level). Food can also influence the biochemical response of an individual (e.g. pleasure or hyperactive) Food has an emotional/energetic value as well as a calorific value Lacking in something (e.g. tissue salt, vitamin) Slide 12 What Can Affect Emotions? Changes in emotions for survival Stress/Trauma Should be short lived; when stress becomes trauma the coffee cup is full Long periods of stress alter how sensitive cells are to changing experiences Negative emotions become more dominant and heighten the nervous system and create cellular chaos Prolonged stress can lead to trauma, causing severe imbalance in the biochemistry and causing rage, distrust of arousal and traumatic symptoms that are not homeostatic regulators.

5 Slide 13 Environment Our biography becomes our biology Before birth to present day These experiences are stored as information of energy and used as a reference for another experience cells want to stay alive Time of year/season/temperature What is in it (including toxins/chemicals) Orienting response experiences Socialisation and de-sensitising Expectation What Can Affect Emotions? Slide 14 What Can Affect Emotions? Surrounding Family Dynamics Heal yourself before attending to anything else The biochemical state of ALL those who the dog interacts with Emotional changes due to safety of others Group compatibility as a social animal (e.g conflict, territorial, competition, protection) How balanced are other individuals? Slide 15

6 Slide 16 Balancing Emotions Dr Isla Fishburn Kachina Canine Communication Slide 17 Re-gaining Balance the emotional trifle The dog s biography becomes his biology; how deep does it go? We are constantly in communication with everything around us as the body pulsates with changes in emotional states it is electricity that transmits and receives messages to and from the experiences. Caroline Myss An animals energy field carries emotional energy created by internal and external experiences - both positive and negative. These experiences are stored in our body, tissues and cells. Every experience travels through the biological system and activates a physiological response, which are stored as chemical memories within a cell. This generates a quality of energy that reflects those emotions. The animal s WHOLE self wants to feel safe Slide 18 Re-gaining Balance the emotional trifle Balance is about a state of harmony in all aspects of one s life. This is wellness: Wellness is about physical, physiological, psychological, spiritual health and being connected with nature. [Maintaining the relaxation response] must include the ability to think clearly, have restful sleep, good diet and digestion, abundant energy, healthy skin, balanced behaviours, and a sense of peace. All of these are important for wellness Benjamin Brown

7 Slide 19 Emotional responses are shaped in each individual by their own unique development and environment history explains responses Focus on restoring the dog s wellness to the best of our ability: and Re-gaining Balance each individual The energy and electricity generated in the body is embodied recorded in the body. The emotional, psychological and physical stress as well as the dog s spirit can create imbalances Wellness focuses on maintaining harmony and allowing biochemical responses to flow positively and freely through Qi and removing imbalances through blockage and tension (exercise to ground body and meditation to calm mind) Holistic healthcare focuses on removing blockages and tension and brining the whole system back in to harmony homeostatic regulation. The purpose is to remove physical and mental obstacles so that the system can come to a natural state of flowing harmony (William Bloom) Slide 20 Where to begin? The emotional state of the dog is past teaching Can t train an emotion and can t unlearn a fear; more primitive and sensitive survival needs (bioenergetics) What is happening internally; biochemical responses Not a pill or a plaster; it may become part of the dog s psyche Promotion of peace and homeostatic regulation of safety Look at the biography of the animal Be realistic and have no expectations being objective can support the animal better Consider the wellness check list and what affects emotions Good diet and digestion Restful sleep Ability to think clearly Balanced behaviours Healthy and abundant energy Development; Dis-ease; Diet; Stress; Env.; You Slide 21 Biography becomes Biology history. Genetics & Development? Dis-ease? Diet? What Can Affect Emotions - checklist Stress/Trauma? Environment? Surrounding family dynamics?

8 Slide 22 You Heal yourself before attending to anything else It is more important and more productive to concentrate on the relationship between human and [dog] than it is to concentrate on the results we hope to achieve training is nothing other than attunement Shaw Nee Pony Boy Are you in balance? What is your biography and how has that shaped your biology? Intention without expectation Emotional attunement Slide 23 GUIDANCE Any young animal will receive guidance from an older individual. It allows for learning but within the need of survival by feeling safe. For our domestic animal an individual needs to look to you for guidance because you are a substitute for a canine (animal) adult and will be the dog s human guardian. As such, the dog can feel that they do not need to make their own decisions based on fear or flight responses and know that everything will happen in the dog s own time. Inevitably, you are making good decisions for your dog and you recognise the individual coping requirements of your dog(s). It creates an orienting response rather than a stress response. Slide 24 TRUST Trust complements the need to feel safe and the two go hand in hand. Trust allows for close interaction, a feeling of calm and a knowing that all is well. This supports the wellness of all in the group. Trust is paramount to the relationship and flow of balanced energy between individuals. If a dog does not trust you then its wellness is already being compromised and it is resonating at a vibration that is not in line with the relaxation response. It can take seconds to lose the trust of an animal and a long time to get it back. Losing trust of your dog usually happens as a result of poor guidance and the dog will start to make its own decisions (based on fear response rather than normal relaxation response).

9 Slide 25 VALUE Animals that live in a particular social group do so because their energies complement each other and survival is optimised without conflict. Your dog is a social group animal and you should treat him/her with this in mind. In most people s lifestyles today we feel that we do not need anyone to survive. But for the dog and wolf, each family member is specifically chosen to function as a group that all need one another. Their survival depends on the co-operation of the group and all individuals are highlighted as being needed. Do not disregard your dog as an animal that should obey you and your commands. The dog is an extension of your family so be sure to meet the needs of your dog on a daily basis. Use your guidance to educate the dog that s/he is needed and show and give trust to your dog. Slide 26 LOVE/INTENTION Love, the greatest remedy of all. There is no doubt that a family group exchange a silent communication of love. Love allows energetic states to be elevated and this can change moods, feelings and behaviour. Just because you have a dog does not mean that you own the dog. Dogs are teachers that allow us to learn about them. You are their human guardians, ensuring that they have the best education and understanding. You need to love and respect any animal as you love and respect yourself; we are all connected. This allows for co-existence, partnership and co-operation, all of which support the wellness of an individual. If you do not have love and respect then you do not need your dog, you cannot show trust to him/her and your levels of ability to guide your dog will be diminished. Slide 27 Human Guardian Wellness Building co-existence and attunement (Emotional) It is more important and more productive to concentrate on the relationship between human and [dog] than it is to concentrate on the results we hope to achieve training is nothing other than attunement Shaw Nee Pony Boy 1. A positive attitude 6. Presence 2. Patience 7. Non - Aggressive 3. Mental fitness 8. Determination 4. Intuition 9. Humility 5. Change 10. Love

10 Slide 28 The Basics: Feelings of Trust Nurturing food Slide 29 Slide 30 External experiences: environment & emotions Natural responses: more predictive slow paced stable controls environmental predictors knows everything within What happened yesterday effects today within own time never rushed Opportunities for mis-walks/quiet space Rest, slow paced activity, long exposure to environment The whole body is an organ of perception, constantly receiving updates that alter cellular responses (Bruce Lipton)

11 Slide 31 Gaia Medicine for Wellness Health is about being in balance - transform to a peaceful state (which is what the body seeks) and may allow for changes in nervous system, emotions, relaxation, breathing and perceptions Nature provides a cure for every ailment; intent to heal Positive and negative experiences register a memory in cell tissue as well as in the energy field (Candace Pert) Can use a range of energy practices to re-balance emotional, physiological or physical states Slide 32 Gaia Medicine for Wellness By including energy practices in to the life of a dog can re-balance these states, improve health, wellness and behaviour. The purpose is to remove imbalances, promote homeostatic regulation in cells and allow the biological system to return to a natural state of flowing harmony (William Bloom) Massage/Touch Accupuncture/Accupressure Nutrition/Diet TCM/Five Elements Chakra cleansing Plant medicine/herbs Energy healing Meditation/Breathing Exercise (grounds the body) Yoga Tuning forks Sound/Colour therapy Crystal Slide 33 Guided Meditation Image from:

12 Slide 34 Any animal wants to feel safe. Their actions are determined by how they feel and what emotional state they are in. To provide harmony and to coexist successfully we have to think about the individual wellness of a dog, the causes that may affect wellness as well as the individual wellness of a human; we are all connected through universal life energy When I look in to the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being. I see a friend. I feel a soul. ~ A.D. Williams