In my treatment I am influenced by dr Stephen Porges and his theory about the importance of safety to help the body to be able to minimize reactions of danger. When the nervous system can detect safety, we have the possibility to feel safe with other people, regulate our emotions, recover from stress and  feel that we are in control of our lives, even in difficult situations. When we have a long history of survival due to trauma, grief, not being seen or heard in relationships etc, we need to train the nervous system to be able to feel safe again. 

Music and the nervous system

The primary role of the autonomic nervous system ( ANS) is to keep us alive. That means that the ANS regulates vital inner processes like blood pressure, digestion and breathing. Interoception and the vagus nerve plays an important role in the ANS with the communication of information (body signals) between the body and the brain. These processes needs to be flexible when the inner and/ or outer world are changing. Research shows us that interoceptive processing has i key role in both our physiological and emotional health as our emotions can be understood us arising from body signals. Exposure to chronic stress can change how the nervous system regulates our bodyily functions and limit our ability to engage socially and think clearly. 

Music has a direct influence on autonomic state. Frequency, rythm, timbre, intensity can be adjusted to enhance calming effects.

Read more:  Quadt, L, Critchley, H, Garfinkel, S, ( 2018). The neurobiology of interoception in health and disease. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1428, 112-128.

Saoirse Finn et al (2018). The biological impact of listening to music in clinical and nonclinical setting: A systematic review. Prog Brain Res. 237:173-200. doi: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2028.03.007

Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP)

The nervous system uses tone of voice as one way to determine safety.  For various resasons (the effects of trauma or a history of ear infections) one´s ability to process the sounds of human voice can be impaired. The SSP uses modulated music to train the neural network associated with listening. When the tone and prosody of human voice can be better processed, it can provide signals of safety to the nervous system. When cues of safety exists in the voices of other people, the parasympathetic nervous system will be activated wich enable better connections and better emotional regulation. 

Read more:  Ödling; H. (2023) Patients experiences of Treatment with Filtered Music in Social Phobia, a pilot studie. Swedish Institute of Cognitive Psychotherapy, Stockholm. 

Rest and Restore Protocol

All organs have a specific rhythm that is controlled by the autonomic nervous system. When we are healthy the rhythm is structured and nice, When we are in stress the structure is disrupted and the body is not in homeostasis any more which means that the body signals to the brainstem that we are unsafe. The Rest and Restore Protocol is a way of signaling to the brainstem that the body and its organ are safe and we can return to the original rhythm.  Regular use of RRP will promote deep relaxation, recovery, connection to self, cultivation interoception and self-regulation as it is increasing vagal tone and the parasympatic nervous system. 

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Schematherapy

Schematherapy offer a way to see our selves and our ways of reacting to triggering situations in a holistic perspective where our childhood experiences creates patterns and models that shapes us today. When we understand ourselves and why we act like we do, we have the opportunity to give us what we need and change destructive behaviors.

Read more: Young, J, Klosko, J. (1993) Reinventing your life: The breakthrough program to end negative behavior ....and feel great again. Scribe Publications.