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Good science writing does what most scientists can’t do- make their important findings accessible. THE ANGEL AND THE ASSASSIN by Donna Jackson Nakazawa is not only accessible- it is a page-turner.
Her topic is "the tiny brain cell that changed the course of medicine", or microglia. Microglia are the equivalent of white cells in the brain and constitute the most active part of the brain’s immune system. They protect the brain (as angels), except when they are overwhelmed by negative conditions such as environmental toxins and interpersonal toxic stress- the worst of this being developmental trauma. Microglia are responsible for synaptic pruning and they target synapses that are no longer active- the cell biology behind ‘use it or lose it’ in the brain. This fact was only established in 2012, and the lymphatic system in the brain was certified in 2015! (Body workers, of course, knew this long before- but now it’s mapped). Over-pruning and the release of stress chemicals (as assassins) due to unrelenting and inescapable threat may be the most significant common mechanism behind many, if not all, psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Our best prevention, then, is reducing toxic stress and keeping synapses active so they don’t signal the microglia to ‘eat me’. One approach that Nakasawa highlights is neurofeedback which keeps neurons firing and reduces stress. She explores other avenues too, such as intermittent fasting- and all with stories of real people using these approaches.
It is a compelling and important read. The release date is January 21st, but you can pre-order it now. Read this book!
- SF
buff.ly/35Ggymt
You may want to take a look at his video on Irlen Syndrome. It is estimated that up to 25% of people may suffer this timing problem between the eyes and the occipital region of the brain. Vision takes coordination between eyes and brain. It’s particularly important for those of us who are providing neurofeedback. Many of our patients who have taken so many hits to the brain will be dealing with this and it can be a very real problem and relatively easy to address. I had it and was without awareness was always compensating. Once I learned about this, did the full work up and got my lenses, I would dive into them whenever possible. They were a dark orange- disappointing because I wanted rose colored glasses- so I didn’t wear them during work. They relieved me and made it much easier to read.
I no longer need them, I think after training at O1-O2. I do a lot of training with my own brain and it was awhile ago so don’t know for sure but it would make sense to train here if you assessed and found Irlen syndrome.
You can find paper and pencil screening form on line. -SF
Understanding Irlen Syndrome and the Irlen Method
buff.ly
This 8-minute video gives an in-depth explanation of Irlen Syndrome and the Irlen Method, and offers interviews with Irlen Spectral Filters wearers, Helen Ir...Ana Joanes is a filmmaker who is deeply interested in early childhood trauma and inter-generational transmission of trauma. Her film is called Wrestling Ghosts and I highly recommend it. In her podcast, Healing Ghosts, she interviews trauma survivors about how they did in fact survive. I love this series, and I hope you learn from it- but perhaps most importantly, I hope you, too, hear the buoyancy and beauty of the stories that run throughout the series. Give them all a listen- you'll be glad you did. Thank you, Ana, for allowing me to be a part of this podcast!
Heal Childhood Trauma with Neurofeedback — Wrestling Ghosts
www.wrestlingghosts.com
Sebern, at age four was abducted and abused. Her parents never believed her and by the time she was a young adult, she ended up in lengthy psychiatric hospitalization. She somehow pulled together and became a thriving psychotherapist and director of a residency program for severely disturbed youth.