Brain wave states are measures of state-of-consciousness. Miss-managed states-of-consciousness are, to varying degrees, states of mental illness.
We all get pushed into some form or degree of mental illness throughout our lives. The sudden shock of traumatic events can powerfully shift our thinking and our emotions and actually re-wire neural patterns - in ways that may take years to fully heal.
Beta brain waves are observed during normal, calm wakeful state. High-beta brain wave states are observed during times of stress, also accompanied by the fight-or-flight reflex. Alpha brain wave state is more calm than beta, and is paired with learning and memory retention.
Within each of these three states - we can access distinctly different ranges of emotions. In High-Beta, we are preparing for a confrontation with a predator... in this brain-state, we only have a limited range of emotional responses to choose from. We simply do not have access to higher emotions when we think we are in danger.
In times of stress, we revert to habit.
If our habit has been paying attention to the trauma in our lives, then we are naturally pushing our brain into high beta. Our brains are releasing chemicals and hormones that match our thoughts... and the body responds to these chemicals with muscle tension and limited digestion, as we prepare to run or fight! Repeated, continual maintenance of high beta 'fight or flight' state leads our bodies to become addicted to the chemicals of stress.
Perhaps this is understood by specialists who deal with post traumatic stress disorder.
Extinguishing Stress
First, I can't do it on my own. I need a guide to help me extinguish my stress. I need a guide to direct my thinking is such a way as to calm my mind from High-Beta and away from the fighting against/blaming/justifying loop of thoughts caused by the trauma. And I need this guide several time a day.
After hundreds of Yoga Classes, I began to notice a shift. I still needed the guide, but I was starting to direct my own thinking, to pace out my own breathing and started to become a co-pilot of sorts, shadow-speaking the ques and commands within myself - as though I was guiding my own yoga session.
If I do not leave the yoga class FEELING happy, grateful, appreciative - then I have not progressed in my practice... I may have become more fit, I may have achieved some temporary relief - but if I'm still fighting in my mind, trying to solve my problems and just returning to my mental loop after the class, then I really have not achieved any modification of my mental illness.
After hundreds more Yoga Classes - I began to realize that I am not going to Yoga to get fit. Not to 'calm my mind'. But actually, my purpose of yoga is to 'practice' happiness.
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