[Rive1976]

I had a flashback last night. I dont trust my visual memories especially because the memory was of me and the details were different but it was basically the same as a scene I had seen in a movie. What happened to that little girl happened in my flashback. So since I dont trust my visual memory my question was to my counselor can the panic and fear and breathing erratically be made emotions? She said no because those memories are stored in the migdayla in our brain. They feel like they are happening right now. That didn't answer my question. Example: I have a fear of heights and a fear of bridges with water under them. I did not almost die on a bridge in my lifetime and I did not fall off a ladder ( and no I don't believe in past lives) So those became fears for no apparent reason and I panic (made emotions) So is it possible to just have panic and it be a made emotion like I had that scene from the movie come in my mind. Her mom was abusing her, then my mom popped into my head and because it was just a scary thing to think I had panic , breathing difficulty etc (made emotions) or does that make it a valid body memory. I dont think she understands. Am I making sense? Do you guys know the answer to my question?

[Lostislost]

Hi, I have trouble with memory and body sensations and feelings too. You are making sense.

Maybe it's something like...when you are on a bridge, and feel panicky, it's a response to another time when you felt helpless, suspended, fearful of falling or death (something like that) so you wouldn't have to have a previous bridge experience to panic on it. Like if I watched a movie scene like that, I would maybe get flashbacks like feelings of helplessness and confusion and feel pressure in my pelvis. Just thinking out loud not sure if it feels like that for you. You're feelings are totally valid wherever they come from, and worth exploring.

[zoiecat]

Your amygdala is like a fire alarm. It senses danger and triggers the physical responses in yiur body. The movie you watched probably set off the amygdala and your brain probably fused the danger scene in the movie with the physical feelings of fear from your past. That is why they say the body remembers. Does tgat make any sense. Sorry if I am not explaining it right.

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by zoiecat

Your amygdala is like a fire alarm. It senses danger and triggers the physical responses in yiur body. The movie you watched probably set off the amygdala and your brain probably fused the danger scene in the movie with the physical feelings of fear from your past. That is why they say the body remembers. Does tgat make any sense. Sorry if I am not explaining it right.

Yes that makes sense but I was wondering if that can be made fear. Like if I see a person get hit does that mean it happened to me if I get panicky about it? Or can it just mean I saw it my mom get hit and it brings up fear? If my breathing gets erratic, I get rigid, I yell stop! etc are those body memories and can they be from just seeing a traumatic event?

[zoiecat]

I am not a therapist by any means but my understanding of the amygdala is that it is a warning bell for fear. So if you see something that your brain does not feel is safe, it goes off and you will feel adrenaline, panic, etc... It does not necessarily mean that you are remembering what you are currently seeing as something from your past but you may be feeling body sensations you felt in the past.

There is a book called The Body Keeps the Score which explains it all. Good book.

[Rive.]

I don't think one can have fear without any apparent reason.

Your nervous system will alert you (sympathetic nervous system will trigger stress response, amygdala signalling danger). However, there is also the interpretation you/we put onto what is happening to us. This cognitive appraisal will turn a purely physical sensation into something more. A physical reaction would die down if there were no 'reasons' behind it.

IF one has an extreme or disproportionate reaction to what happens (stimulus triggers our alarm system), I believe there must be an underlying reason... one we may not be conscious of. Reasons for that may be that something has been repressed (e.g. too traumatic to recall in full awareness) or something that happened to us at a pre-verbal stage or when our cognitive development wasn't mature, so to speak.

All that to say that I think what you saw triggered a body memory and didn't just randomly happen. There was a meaning underlying your reaction, one you may not have conscious access to yet.

[Rive1976]

Originally Posted by Rive.

I don't think one can have fear without any apparent reason.

Your nervous system will alert you (sympathetic nervous system will trigger stress response, amygdala signalling danger). However, there is also the interpretation you/we put onto what is happening to us. This cognitive appraisal will turn a purely physical sensation into something more. A physical reaction would die down if there were no 'reasons' behind it.

IF one has an extreme or disproportionate reaction to what happens (stimulus triggers our alarm system), I believe there must be an underlying reason... one we may not be conscious of. Reasons for that may be that something has been repressed (e.g. too traumatic to recall in full awareness) or something that happened to us at a pre-verbal stage or when our cognitive development wasn't mature, so to speak.

All that to say that I think what you saw triggered a body memory and didn't just randomly happen. There was a meaning underlying your reaction, one
you may not have conscious access to yet.

This may be a stupid question but can you have a body memory based on something you witnessed but didn't experience? Also is what I experienced technically a body memory because all that happened was I yelled. I got rigid and my breatjing was effected. I didnt have anything like a stomach ache etc.

[Rive.]

It is not at all a stupid question, quite the opposite. It is a very pertinent and also a complex question.

Unfortunately, I don't have the answer. There are myriad reasons and factors (from your biochemical makeup to your personal history etc etc) that could help shed a light on the 'why's'. And sometimes, it not even possible to find a satisfying 'why'.

This is something you would be best to explore in therapy - with someone who specialises in trauma for instance.