Balancing the Brain

08/06/2024

Why I focus on bottom up approaches in therapy https://integratedlistening.com/blog/5-benefits-of-a-bottom-up-therapeutic-approach/
I am a SSP provider and it works beautifully with IFS, Brainspotting and primitive reflex integration work

Explore the benefits of a bottom-up approach in therapy, informed by Polyvagal Theory, and practical tools like the Safe and Sound Protocol.

26/01/2024

Polyvagal mapping helps you to understand the dance of the nervous system. We should be riding through all the three stages throughout the day and not get stuck. The forth stage is the one in-between Sympathetic and Dorsal stage. You alternate between the two and get stuck. This is where people with ADHD and ASD often get stuck. It just looks a bit different with ADHD than ASD.
We also have a home in one of the three stages.
Where is your home?
Mine is definitely the sympathetic stage.

22/01/2024

When we look at things from the nervous system ( ANS) lens, everything makes sense.
The primary responsibility of the ANS is to ensure safety and survival. Without safety, our body will automatically resort to survival mode, adaptation and compensation. This is not the best response in the modern world.
We evaluate things being good or bad. You are exactly where you need to be.
This is how your nervous system keeps you safe and functioning in this world although it might not be the most optimal way.
What about if we looked at ADHD being stuck between sympathetic and dorsal states of the nervous system. In overwhelm or collapse or a state in between.
What about if we looked at addictions as adaptive strategies for survival that kick in when there’s no safety?
What about if we looked at weak gluteal muscles as a response to a poor pelvic and ribcage position? The poor gluteal muscles are not in a position to fire 🤔
What about if we are stuck in a position of breath holding? Maybe a past traumatic experience wants to make you invisible so you hold your breath in an attempt to do so. Or perhaps you have unintegrated primitive reflexes such as fear paralysis.
These are all subconscious patterns. You are not aware of them.
But they all make sense if we tune into and start understanding our nervous system 🙏🏻🙏🏻

16/01/2024

ADHD is a lack of stillness. Whether it is my body moving or my brain that never shuts up 🫣🤣
I think about ADHD as a neuroimmaturity of the brain. Nothing to do with your IQ. In fact,I like to think that we often are mega intelligent. The beauty of going through lots of struggles 👌🏻
What makes things complicated is the retained or unintegrated primitive reflexes.
What is a primitive reflex?
Reflex is an automatic, instinctual movement or combination of movements in response to a stimulus. There will be a longer post about this but in this video you will see my symmetrical tonic neck reflex in action. It should have integrated as part of my developmental journey but it did not. So that STNR movement pattern is “locked” in my system. I am sort of stuck.
My up and down head movement remain linked to arm and leg movement.
When sitting at desk, a person with an active STNR may slump with head dropped towards chest and the legs straight in front.
I cannot focus sitting straight up. If I do so, I will fold my legs under me, cross them or wrap around the chair in order to focus and be comfortable.
This reflex is linked to learning disability, reading comprehension, ability to concentrate and vision issues.
I do not have learning issues, in fact I love learning but I do have vision issues.
People who have unintegrated STNR often sit in a W position like me in the third slide.
My favourite way to study is to lie down on the floor and be kissed by a puppy. I can sense the ground and my body feels safe and supported.
Let me know if you have any questions/ thoughts ❤️🙏🏻

15/01/2024

15/01/2024

ADHD is like driving a Ferrari without brakes. It also sometimes feels like” if someone could remove my brain for the day so I could rest.”
My husband hates when I never answer the question. I need to tell everything about the subject. Absolutely everything.
When people ask me what do I do for living, I can’t give you that 30 second elevator pitch. But I can give you a lecture how I look at you and your presenting issues from the developmental point of view, attachment, trauma, eyes, nervous system, mouth/teeth/jaw, functional medicine, joint positioning, breath, neurology, cranial sacral system, primitive reflexes, putting together countless trainings and certifications…
That is how my brain works. And it’s so frustrating. 🥵
So I just freeze and say I teach Pilates 🤣🫣 which could not be further from the truth 🫣

But my ADHD comes very handy in my work. I am hyper focused when I’m working and studying as I love doing what I do. But on other areas in my life.. well I struggle.
But that struggling has also brought so much strength, patience, acceptance and compassion. Definitely has made me a better human being, mother, wife and a therapist.
So if you are looking to address your pain and health challenges beyond the traditional route, I would love to help you.
My trainings are also a reflection of my own struggles with health and pain. I had to become the therapist that I needed. I am so glad I kept listening to that inner voice that kept looking for answers.
I have also built a team of great professionals that I regularly refer my clients to.
I love teaching my weekly classes where I bring all my knowledge together. My plan is to build an online membership portal where I can share my knowledge to a wider audience as it’s so needed right now.

I am also hoping that next time I’m doing an Instagram post, it will take me 10 minutes rather than 2 hours 🥵🫣🤣