Memory

For many individuals experiencing depression, past traumatic events can be a significant contributing factor. These experiences can become traumatically encoded in the brain, leading to persistent negative emotions, avoidance behaviours, and a restricted way of living. Although the stress felt today is generated in the present, past events can shape negative patterns of thought and behaviour that continue to cause ongoing difficulties. It is easy for individuals to attribute their current struggles solely to present-day issues, but often, unresolved trauma plays a more subtle yet powerful role. For some people grappling with long-term depression, addressing and resolving the emotional impact of these past traumas can be a crucial step towards recovery. By removing the intense emotional charge associated with traumatic memories, individuals can be freed from the grip of the past. This release can then create the space and emotional capacity to build new, more positive habits and ways of being, ultimately allowing them to move towards a more normal and fulfilling life. When the brain is no longer constantly reacting to past threats, individuals have more energy and mental space to focus on the present and future, and to engage in value-driven activities. The Havening Technique is a psychosensory method that has shown to be very effective at reducing the emotional content of traumatic memories. It works by using simple touch, often self-applied or by a practitioner, combined with distracting tasks. This process aims to de-link the emotional and somatic components from the recalled traumatic event, essentially removing the distressing elements. At a neurological level, Havening is believed to induce delta wave activity in the brain and increase the neurotransmitter GABA. This creates a state where the amygdala, the part of the brain involved in processing fear and traumatic memories, undergoes synaptic depotentiation. This means that the receptors on the neurons that hold the traumatic encoding are effectively altered, disrupting the neural pathway associated with the trauma. The result of Havening is often a sense of detachment from the memory, where the individual can recall the event without experiencing the same intensity of negative emotions or physical reactions. The traumatic memory becomes more like any other memory, no longer triggering the body's fight, flight, or freeze response. Importantly, Havening can be done content-free, meaning the individual does not need to verbally recount the details of the trauma if they are not comfortable doing so. By depotentiating the traumatic memories, Havening can remove a significant obstacle to healing, allowing individuals with long-term depression, where trauma is a factor, to move forward and create a life less burdened by the past. Summary For many individuals with long-term depression, unresolved trauma can play a significant role by creating entrenched negative patterns. Addressing these past traumas and reducing their emotional impact can free individuals to build new habits and ways of being that support a return to a normal life. The Havening technique is a powerful tool that uses touch and distraction to depotentiate the emotional content of traumatic memories at a neurological level, allowing these memories to be recalled without the same level of distress. This can be a crucial step in breaking free from the past and moving towards a more positive future.

Memory

Trauma’s Contribution To Depression And The Role Of Havening

Understanding Somatic Flashbacks and Their Neurological Basis