The effect of trauma on the brain and how it affects behaviors | John Rigg | TEDxAugusta

Summary

This script delves into the human response to stress, particularly hyper arousal and anger, and how it's rooted in our primitive 'animal brain.' It contrasts this with the 'human brain' responsible for personality and decision-making. The speaker, a physician specializing in traumatic brain injury, uses examples from military personnel to illustrate how stress can hijack memory and behavior. He advocates for addressing the root causes of stress through physical therapy, meditation, and exercise rather than relying on medication.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The human brain is divided into two parts: the cortex (human brain) responsible for personality, decision-making, and individuality, and the subcortical (animal brain) responsible for basic functions and instincts.
• 🔥 Stress is a significant factor that can trigger overreactions and hyper arousal, particularly affecting the subcortical brain which governs our primal instincts.
• ❤️‍🔥 The amygdala, a part of the subcortical brain, is hyperactivated by stress and triggers the fight-or-flight response, which can lead to aggressive or defensive behaviors.
• 🏋️‍♂️ Physical symptoms like headaches and muscle tension are often a result of stress-induced muscle tightening and are not necessarily due to brain abnormalities.
• 🎯 The fight-or-flight response is an ancient survival mechanism that has been present for over 300 million years, ensuring quick reactions to threats.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 In relationships, misunderstandings can occur when one person's stressed or aggressive behavior triggers a primitive response in another, leading to arguments.
• 🧘‍♂️ Techniques such as meditation, yoga, and physical exercise are effective in reducing stress and calming the hyperactive animal brain.
• 💊 The speaker advocates for addressing the root causes of stress and hyper arousal through holistic approaches rather than relying solely on medication.
• 🎵 The speaker concludes with a musical tribute to the military, highlighting the importance of recognizing and supporting those who have served and sacrificed.
• 🤔 The script encourages individuals to be aware of how their primitive animal brain reacts to situations and to consider non-pharmaceutical alternatives for managing stress.

Q & A

What are the two brains mentioned in the script that contribute to our behaviors?

The two brains mentioned are the cortex, referred to as the human or intelligent brain, and the subcortical brain, also known as the primitive or animal brain.

How does stress influence behaviors according to the script?

Stress influences behaviors by activating the primitive animal brain, which can lead to overreactions such as anger, hostility, and hyper arousal.

What is the role of the cortex in human behavior as described in the script?

The cortex, or human brain, is responsible for personality, individuality, decision-making, and processing sensory information. It is the largest part of the human brain and is central to our thinking and actions.

What are some of the automatic functions controlled by the primitive animal brain?

The primitive animal brain controls automatic functions such as heartbeat, breathing, digestion, and blood pressure.

How does the script explain the reaction to an attractive person passing by during a conversation?

The script explains that the reaction is due to the primitive sexual instinct programmed in the animal brain, which is an automatic response to sexual attraction.

What is the fight-or-flight response, and how does it relate to the primitive animal brain?

The fight-or-flight response is a powerful instinct for survival that is programmed in the primitive animal brain. It prepares the body to either confront or escape from a threat.

How does the script illustrate the difference in reaction time between the cortex and the primitive animal brain?

The script uses the example of a soldier reacting to fireworks as if they were an explosion, showing that the primitive animal brain reacts faster than the cortex, which processes and understands the situation more slowly.

What is the role of the amygdala in the context of the script?

The amygdala is a structure in the subcortical brain that becomes hyperactivated, particularly in response to threats, and triggers the fight-or-flight response.

How does the script suggest treating stress-related issues in soldiers?

The script suggests treating stress-related issues through physical therapy, relaxation techniques, meditation, yoga classes, and exercise, rather than relying solely on pharmaceutical products.

What is the significance of the musician background of the speaker in the script?

The speaker's background as a musician is significant as it adds a personal touch to his message and allows him to connect with his audience, particularly military personnel, through music.

What does the script suggest about the control we have over our reactions to stress?

The script suggests that while the primitive animal brain reacts automatically to stress, we can use our cortex to consciously control our reactions and choose alternative responses to reduce stress.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 The Impact of Stress on Human Behavior

The speaker begins by inviting the audience to recall an intense argument, particularly with a loved one, and to ponder the factors that led to an overreaction. The discussion then shifts to stress as a key factor influencing behavior. The human brain is described as having two distinct parts: the cortex, or 'human brain,' which is responsible for personality and decision-making, and the subcortical brain, or 'animal brain,' which governs instinctive reactions. Stress is highlighted as a significant influence on the subcortical brain, affecting behaviors like anger and hostility.

05:01

🐘 The Primitive Brain and Survival Instincts

The speaker delves into the concept of the primitive brain, explaining how it controls basic functions and instincts, such as eating, sexual attraction, and the fight-or-flight response. Using examples from everyday life and advertising, the speaker illustrates how these instincts can unconsciously influence behavior. The discussion then turns to the powerful instinct of survival, which is deeply ingrained in the primitive brain and can significantly impact an individual's actions, especially in high-stress situations like war.

10:02

🎭 The Reaction of the Animal Brain to Trauma

Drawing from personal experience as a physician working with military personnel, the speaker discusses how traumatic experiences, such as those faced by soldiers in combat, can hyperactivate the fight-or-flight response in the primitive brain. This hyperactivation can lead to instinctive reactions that are appropriate in a combat zone but can be maladaptive in civilian life. The speaker shares a personal anecdote about a soldier's reaction to fireworks, demonstrating how the animal brain's response can override the thinking brain's understanding of the situation.

15:02

🤯 The Consequences of Hyper Arousal and Stress

The speaker explores how the hyper arousal of the primitive brain due to stress can lead to irritability and overreactions in everyday situations. Using a domestic scenario involving a couple, the speaker explains how stress and the resulting activation of the animal brain can trigger arguments and negative behaviors. The discussion emphasizes the importance of recognizing the role of the primitive brain in our reactions and the need to manage stress to prevent such incidents.

20:03

🛑 Addressing Stress-Related Issues Holistically

The speaker advocates for addressing the root causes of stress-related issues rather than relying solely on medication. By using examples from military personnel, the speaker suggests alternative approaches such as physical therapy, relaxation techniques, meditation, and exercise to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. The speaker concludes with a personal demonstration of music as a form of relaxation and a tribute to military personnel, highlighting the importance of holistic solutions in managing stress.

25:05

🎸 The Power of Music and Tribute to Military Service

In the final part of the script, the speaker transitions from the discussion on stress management to a musical performance. As a former professional musician and current physician, the speaker plays a heartfelt tribute on the guitar to honor veterans, active-duty soldiers, and those involved with the military. The performance is a gesture of gratitude for the freedoms enjoyed and a celebration of the diverse life experiences made possible by the service and sacrifices of military personnel.

Keywords

💡Hyper arousal

Hyper arousal refers to an exaggerated state of physiological and emotional activation, often in response to stress or perceived threats. In the context of the video, it is linked to overreactions and aggressive behaviors, such as those experienced by individuals in stressful situations or military personnel in combat zones. The speaker uses the example of a soldier who, upon returning from deployment, continues to exhibit hyper arousal to everyday stimuli like fireworks, mistaking them for explosions due to his heightened state of alertness.

💡Stress

Stress is a physical and emotional response to demanding or threatening situations. The video discusses how stress can influence behavior by activating the body's fight-or-flight response, particularly the primitive animal brain. This is illustrated through the experiences of military personnel who, after exposure to traumatic events, may continue to exhibit stress-induced behaviors even in safe environments.

💡Fight-or-flight response

The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. The video emphasizes the role of this response in survival instincts, explaining how it is triggered by the primitive animal brain. It is highlighted in the context of military personnel who are in constant states of alertness and readiness for combat, which can lead to ongoing stress and hyper arousal even after returning from deployment.

💡Cortex

The cortex, also known as the cerebral cortex, is the outer layer of the brain involved in higher cognitive functions such as thought, action, and memory. The video contrasts the cortex with the primitive animal brain, emphasizing that the cortex is responsible for conscious decision-making and individual personality. It is noted that the cortex can process sensory information and make rational choices, unlike the automatic reactions of the animal brain.

💡Primitive animal brain

The primitive animal brain refers to the subcortical structures that are responsible for basic survival instincts and reactions. The video describes how this part of the brain reacts automatically to stimuli without conscious thought, such as the fight-or-flight response. It is also linked to behaviors like sexual attraction and territorial defense, which are本能 behaviors that do not require conscious thought.

💡Amygdala

The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure in the brain that is involved in processing emotions, particularly those related to fear and aggression. In the video, the amygdala is mentioned as the part of the primitive animal brain that becomes hyperactivated, leading to the fight-or-flight response. It is highlighted in the context of soldiers who may experience heightened emotional reactions due to the amygdala's role in stress and survival mechanisms.

💡Irritability

Irritability is a state of being easily annoyed or provoked, often as a result of stress or fatigue. The video uses the example of a couple where the wife's irritation over a spilled drink leads to an aggressive interaction with her husband. This demonstrates how stress and the activation of the primitive animal brain can lead to irritability and conflict, even in situations that would not typically provoke such a reaction.

💡Memory

Memory in the context of the video refers to the ability to encode, store, and retrieve information. The speaker discusses how stress and hyper arousal can affect memory, as the brain's attention is diverted to managing stress responses rather than focusing on cognitive tasks. This is exemplified by a soldier who, due to hyper arousal, fails to hear a conversation because his brain is preoccupied with potential threats.

💡Meditation

Meditation is a practice of focusing the mind and achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. The video suggests meditation as a tool for relaxation and stress reduction, which can help in managing the effects of the primitive animal brain's reactions. It is mentioned as part of a holistic approach to treating stress-related symptoms, alongside other methods like physical therapy and exercise.

💡Holistic treatment

Holistic treatment refers to an approach that considers the whole person, including physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual aspects, in the quest for optimal health. The video advocates for a holistic approach to managing stress and its effects on the brain and body, as opposed to relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions. This includes practices like meditation, yoga, and physical exercise, which aim to reduce stress and promote overall well-being.

Highlights

The discussion explores the factors contributing to overreactions and hyper arousal, particularly in the context of anger and hostility.

Stress is identified as a significant factor influencing behaviors, affecting one of the 'two brains' that contribute to our actions.

The human brain, or cortex, is distinguished from the primitive animal brain, which is responsible for instinctual reactions.

The cortex is responsible for personality, individuality, and decision-making, processing sensory information.

The primitive animal brain controls vital functions like heartbeat, breathing, and digestion, and reacts to the environment without thinking.

Sexual attraction is cited as an example of an animal instinct that can influence human behavior.

Survival instincts, particularly the fight-or-flight response, are hardwired into the primitive animal brain and are crucial for survival.

The impact of traumatic experiences, such as war, on the brain and subsequent behaviors is examined through the lens of military personnel.

The amygdala, a part of the primitive brain, is highlighted as the trigger for the fight-or-flight response, which can become hyperactivated.

Sensory information is processed by both the cortex and the primitive animal brain, with the latter reacting more quickly.

The primitive animal brain's faster response can lead to reactions that the cortex, or thinking brain, might not endorse.

Irritability and overreactions can stem from the primitive brain's response to stress and sensory input, even in non-threatening situations.

Stress hormones can hijack memories and concentration, leading to difficulties in attention and memory recall.

Physical symptoms like headaches and muscle tension are often the result of stress and the activation of the primitive animal brain.

Alternatives to pharmaceuticals for managing stress and its symptoms are suggested, including physical therapy, relaxation techniques, and exercise.

The importance of using the cortex, or thinking brain, to control reactions and make conscious decisions is emphasized.

A tribute to military personnel is made through a musical performance, showcasing the speaker's unique blend of professional musician and physician.

Transcripts

I want to ask you to think back to some

occasion in your life when you might

have gotten in an argument with someone

particularly someone that you loved you

cared for a lot a family member a spouse

a parent and really reacted really react

it got so angry did things you said

things maybe broke stuff said hurtful

things and then later on reflected on

your behavior and wondering what

happened where did that come from I want

to look at some of the factors that

contribute to that type of overreaction

that mechanism that hyper arousal that

occurs hyper arousal anger hostility

where does that come from what generates

it I'm going to talk about stress okay

stress as if as a factor that can

influence behaviors and look at the

anatomy of the human brain is actually

we actually have two brains that are

contributing to our behaviors two brains

contributing to our behaviors and stress

is particularly influential on one of

them stresses noting that we think about

right we don't come up with stress it is

a reaction to the external environment

so let me talk about the two brains I

have a diagram here of this the cortex

of the brain and this structure

underneath the cortex of the brain which

is labeled brain stem in here but I'm

really talking to talk about the

subcortical brain this entire structure

here the cortex of the brain is what I'm

going to call the human brain the

intelligent brain it's where our

personality is our individuality where

we make choices of our mate what we eat

we're kind of music we listen to what

car we drive where we live what type of

life we live we take in sensory

information that's processed in the

cortex and we

take actions based on sensory

information that's where our personality

our individuality it's all centered in

that cortical area note in the human

brain it's actually the the by far the

largest mass of the human brain is

cortex okay we rule the world as humans

why not because we perform animal

functions better than any animals we're

not bigger faster stronger than animals

we think better we have the largest

cortex and we rule the world but we're

animals we eat make waste products and

make babies and that behavior triggered

by our primitive animal brain is

sometimes responsible for triggering

some of the behaviors that were not

particularly fond of so this primitive

animal brain what does it do well the

brain reacts to situations whether we

want it to or not particularly this

animal brain which doesn't think it just

reacts to the environment so if I if I

said to you hey let's all go outside and

race across Broad Street but don't your

heart beat increase could you do it now

you can think to yourself hey I'm going

to stop my heart beat for 10 seconds but

you can't do it the thought exists the

thinking exists in the cortex the human

brain but the animal brain is

controlling your heartbeat and won't let

you do it so you can think all you want

about lowering your blood pressure and

it won't happen that primitive animal

brain is maintaining your heartbeat your

breathing your digestion from the moment

that you're born at any time I mean even

pre pre birth you know as a fetus that

no these structures start operating in

that central nervous system primitive

animal brain is operating non-stop until

it until your death pretty amazing

okay I'm gonna ask you to look at

another way that that this primitive

animal brain reacts the situations okay

so this you know let's let's pick a

picture a bunch of guys hanging out

arguing about who's gonna win the Super

Bowl on Sunday talking about cars

whatever whatever men might want to talk

about when they're involved in a

conversation I'm a man so I look at you

know I only have a male perspective on

things but what you guys are sitting

around talking and all of a sudden there

that conversation this really attractive

looking woman walks by with a

inappropriately short miniskirt and an

inappropriately tight t-shirt what's

gonna happen to that conversation all

right the little Snickers in yon is no

not me man I don't look you know men

will be attracted to that not because

they're out there searching for mates

married men might react that way okay

but because of the fact there's an

animal incident of sexual attraction

why do advertisers put sexually

attractive women in ads to attract

attention to that ads so people go on

buy stuff they don't need okay it's an

animal instinct now I may be distracted

at times but I'm married so I don't go

out and chase the girl you know married

men's committed men or in relationships

might to be attracted might be it might

be like a magnetic boom but back focus

on hey I'm married yeah I think the

Patriots are gonna lose or whatever you

know whatever the conversation happens

you know

but the reaction and I don't know how

women react to men I mean you know

fortunately you you do react those ugly

guys with that's good you know but that

primitive sexual instinct is a really

important behavioral driver of on a day

to day basis you know male elephants are

attracted to female elephants female

frogs mate with male frogs all species

mates sexual attractions basic animal

instinct a more powerful animal instinct

programmed in that primitive animal

brain is survival and how do animals

survive fight or flight okay much more

powerful instinct so the primitive

animal brain to review runs our body

breathing digestion heartbeat blood

maintains blood pressure and this

program for primitive animal instincts

that all animals have eating sexual

attractions seeking safety and shelter

and then that most powerful instinct

survival fight-or-flight the cortex of

the brain is our thinking brain it makes

decisions it takes actions that those

things okay based on sensory information

it thinks it's where our memory is

located all of our processing

now my job on a daily basis is I work

I'm a physician I work I'm the director

of the traumatic brain injury for the

military down here at Fort Gordon

Eisenhower Army Medical Center and I'm

gonna use some examples of what happens

to soldiers when they're taken from the

United States sent over to Iraq and

Afghanistan and experience the traumatic

experience of war and how does that

experience impact their performance how

does that experience impact their

behaviors based on the influence that

that traumatic experience has on their

brain whether they wanted to or not okay

so what they do is they go to a place

like Iraq or Afghanistan what is the

enemy trying to do to them when they're

there kill him

trying to keep the enemies trying to

kill these men and women so their

fight-or-flight the primitive animal

instinct is ramped up and magnified

turned on big time

all the time not for like 20 minutes

here in ten minutes here but non-stop

for 24 24/7 through their entire time of

deployment I was I was with the patient

this morning seven deployments seven

deployments 14 months minimum of those

seven in those seven deployments

hyperactivated fighter flight and when

you're in a place where you know bad

guys are trying to kill you having your

fight-or-flight activated to respond

real quickly is the best thing that

could happen to you and it functions

great when you're in a combat zone

but now let's take that soldier and

return him to the United States so you

get on a plane come back to the US get

off the plane hi I'm back home what part

of the brain is recognizing the

geographic shift back to the United

States the cortex the intelligent human

thinking brain but where was this hyper

aroused fight-or-flight located and the

primitive animal brain the subcortical

brain specifically a structure called

the amygdala which becomes hyper

activated and triggers fight-or-flight

now that was very very powerful and

essential in a combat zone but the

soldier now comes home and he's still

hyperactivated so to give you an example

I had one of my men went to it was home

for a few months he was feeling pretty

good he went to a rock and roll show in

Atlanta hanging out in Atlanta

I was doing ok with the crowds but all

of a sudden boom fireworks go off BAM he

bought he dives to the ground now he

didn't hear the explosion ago that

sounds like a bomb I'd better duck ok he

reacted non-thinking

so now let's look at the anatomy of the

brain cause there's one more super

important point to make in here that's

fascinating sensory information comes in

- you know we see here taste touch and

smell that sensor information comes into

our sense organs is sent to a structure

in the brain except for smell which

bypasses the thalamus but all the rest

are sent to the thalamus which is a

relay station that sends a signal to

both the human intelligent cortical

brain and the primitive animal brain so

in this case of this explosion at a rock

show the explosion gets to the cortex

and the cortex is gonna think about

exploding sounds like a bomb Whitman I'm

in Atlanta oh my gosh the terrorists by

the way the band still playing nobody's

running for cover nobody saw romance

fireworks roof I'm ok and the cortex

could figure that out very quickly

simultaneously that signal went to the

animal brain the animal brain doesn't

understand geography it's hyper

activated

it's hyperactivated particular to

explosions which in war meant what I a

DS rocket-propelled grenades mortars

blood guts death body parts here's the

second key point about this primitive

animal brain number one it doesn't

understand geography number two it's

faster than the thinking brain the

animal brain actually is physiologically

wired to respond faster than the

thinking brain so before the soldier can

take that soldier was fireworks that

explosion was fireworks boom he's on the

ground diving for cover you know about

the time he hits the ground he's going

on like god I feel like a jerk down here

you know because everybody else is up

cheering and he's on the ground ok but

it was a non thinking response you know

non thinking response triggered by the

animal brain which is wired to respond

faster when you think about it from a

survival perspective a survival

perspective the faster we react the more

likely you are to survive so indeed

through an evolutionary period you know

the human species has been around about

300,000 years but for 300 million years

we have had animals have had a

fight-or-flight reaction I don't know

who figures this stuff out but that's

what it says in the biological books 300

million years of a fight-or-flight you

know the faster they react the more

likely they are to survive the animal

brain is not very smart

it's fast it's fast the more the quicker

you respond to dangerous threatening

situations the more likely you ought to

survive a child that grows up in an

abused environment you could take them

out of that home right and put them

somewhere else but if he's experienced

he or she has experienced significant

abuse in that home that abuse is

impacted their arousal system their

primitive animal brain no matter how

much in their cortical brain they may

want to overcome that they are still

reacting to situations programmed in

that primitive animal brain but you

can't change by thinking any more than

you can change your heartbeat your blood

pressure okay eat and hold your food

your belly for four hours before you

digest it so let me talk a little bit

about irritability okay

so there was a man and wife or at home

and the wife asked her husband

honey can you take out the trash for me

sure maybe no problem I'll take out the

garbage so the man he gets up took out

the garbage did a good job cleaned up

everything a nice came back in the house

that down job done now meanwhile his

wife walked off into another room and

their two little children the two little

children had spilt chocolate milk all

over this beautiful brand-new white sofa

she was angry now she's got this new

sofa with big nasty stains on it she's

not happy okay why they look these kids

to break chocolate milk in here why did

I get a white sofa my relatives are

coming to visit I got this nasty stain

on here boy is she angry she's not mad

at her husband okay but she comes back

to her husband with a me angry look on

her face okay

and now our husbands in a maybe fatigued

stressed-out with you know stuff going

on at work or whatever you know not

particularly a great mood she comes back

to him now and she got a angry look on

her face and she goes did you take off

that trash like I asked you yeah he

starts cursing his way

yelling at her Wow well what happened

well how did she go how did she approach

her husband aggressive hostile angry

what's the fastest part of the brain to

respond to sensory information coming in

his angry face and angry tone of voice

the fastest part of the brain that

respond is what the primitive animal

brain in order for that man to recognize

hey that's my wife talking about the

garbage

he needs his memory in his cortex to

recognize his wife and to recognize the

English language did you take out the

garbage so when he responded he didn't

respond to his wife he responded to the

aggressive tone of voice and the

aggressive face that she presented now

of course when he yells at his wife she

don't like that okay so she barks at him

and he barks back at her and now they're

in a big argument over nonsense over

nonsense

they made a their intelligent thinking

human brains made a decision hey I love

you baby let's get married and live

happily ever after

let's have a wonderful life together

your awesome husband daddy but now in

the heat of the moment that intelligent

decision and the primitive animal brain

is reacted and gotten him into a

situation that they're intelligent

thinking brain never would have never

would have when when the brain is hyper

aroused if it's stressed out you know

certainly this is a situation that I see

in in in military personnel who have

been involved in combat but you know

everybody gets stressed out you know

bills family relations neighbors making

too much noise or whatever okay that

hyper arousal that primitive animal

brain is pumping out stress hormones

interfering with sleep keeping you up it

can hijack a memory because as you're

thinking of all the stress even

unconsciously remember I'm not talking

about the conscious brain where you're

thinking and plotting and using your

cortex and probably a hyper arousal the

animal brain that's been stimulated by

some type of stuff okay could be trauma

could be just day-to-day stuff that's

accumulating and hard to manage but the

stress hormones get released

it activates that part of the brain and

memory becomes difficult because

concentration and attention it's not

that the memory storage and recall is

problematic 'since the attention is

being diverted to all this other stuff

ok the stress factors for example I'll

have a lot of soldiers will tell me they

have memory problems I was talking to a

guy once in my office and we had started

having a sports conversation and we get

up and walking down the hall and I'm

talking about

you know the topic that we had been

speaking about we got to the end that

Holly goes doc and I told you my memory

sucks I don't remember anything he just

said well what happened was when I

opened up the door we retrace our steps

to analyze this so when I opened up the

door he saw other doors in the hallway

and started thinking who's in those

rooms what kind of weapons they got in

there whose footsteps are those coming

down to connect me hauling one of the

guys a grenade what are we gonna do it's

about time we got to the end of the hall

he wasn't he didn't forget what I said

he never heard it because his primitive

animal brain was hyper aroused so what

are we gonna do about it you know I mean

as a neuroscientist I went back to

school later in life I became a

physician and I have been fascinated

being a brain mechanic that's kind of

what I consider myself to be I'm not a

behavioral health psychiatrist or

anybody that deals with move depression

and all this kind of stuff but what I

love is the way the brain operates is a

machine the most complex machine in the

entire universe and what is really

amazing to me is we got this part of the

brain it's reacting before we think and

triggering hormonal releases and

consequently behaviors that really take

us in situations that we don't

necessarily want when we look back well

why did I do that during the day the

brain is constantly generating ideas

constantly generating thoughts it goes

back to that you know I like to think

about in terms of ontology you know

Descartes 1650 said there I think

therefore I am

how did he define his being I think

therefore I am

fast forward to the 1950s French

existentialist jean-paul Sartre was

concerned not that I think therefore I

am but I am the person that sees my

thoughts thoughts may happen but they're

generated

spontaneously by the brain they're not

necessarily who you are you are the

person that sees those thoughts I love

that definition because that's the

cortex of the brain that I want to

amplify I want to magnify when you use

that cortex to determine in my life how

I live my life what I do I can see

thoughts coming into my head you know

maybe getting emotional about stuff

angry about somebody challenging me or

cutting me off on the road or or

something that's challenging but it's

always good to stop for me I stop to

think wow feel my reaction to it is not

necessarily what I want to happen here

what I want to happen I can control I

can do with my cortex I still react is

that brain that primitive brain reacts

so in my experience both in the working

for I've been working for the for the

army for about almost seven years now

and you know been a brain injury doubt

for a few years more than that I see a

lot of folks in this status who end up

going to doctors and they get headache

medications prophylactic and a board of

therapies they get sleep meds which

don't work they get mood medications

they get pain meds okay you know oh let

me talk about one more thing I forgot so

stress right when you're always walking

wrong all these muscles are tightening

up you know you're walking around neck

the sore back is sore you know this is

this is pain being generated by stress

you know with headache headache

generation particular attention and then

migraine headaches neck muscles being

tight for that you know from stress

pretty much every soldier that I see

it's been the war has this going on so

is is a solution to give them headache

meds to fix the headache or do we get to

the cause of the problem let's get to

the cause of the problem this isn't

rocket science

okay a person's stressed it changes the

way their body is operating because of

these stress hormones being activated so

we can do things to reduce the stress

you don't need so long well I mean I'm

not talking about psychiatric patients

need medications but I'm talking about

just cases where there's a clear-cut

cause of hyper arousal hyper stress

okay where this physical symptoms are

being generated not by abnormalities in

the brain but by a set of circumstances

that is arousing the primitive animal

brain to create stress hormones and

activation of this thing we call stress

so what we do when we treat the men and

women who have gone to war is try to get

to a solution okay so how do we treat

headaches send them to a physical

therapist they learn a stretching

program they get devices heating devices

massage devices to loosen up the muscles

lower the tension that's triggering the

headaches learn sleep hygiene learn

relaxation techniques okay we have yoga

classes okay we teach meditation

meditation has been an amazing tool

you know meditation relaxes the brain

what happens physical symptoms get

better headaches memory sleep mood

issues all are improving exercise

physical exercises we one I'm probably

the biggest advocate of okay we have

many many patients who are on profiles

meaning they're not allowed to exercise

at normal high level of military so we

use these programs to really help the

soldiers decrease their stress level and

go to an organic holistic solution

rather than using the pharmaceutical

products which of course have

significant side effects so I leave you

with the message of considering in your

own lives how the your primitive animal

brain reacts to situations triggering

actions and urge you to consider

alternatives to the pharmaceutical

industry I am about to demonstrate

something that I do for relaxation

before I was a physician I was a

professional guitar player for many

years and I'm about to plug in this

beautiful Gibson Les Paul over here and

do a little I'm gonna do this as a

tribute to the men and women that have

served in military I've had an amazing

opportunity in my life to not only be a

professional musician but to go to

medical school and become a doctor in my

40s because I live in this amazing

country called the United States and

play this for all the veterans and

current active-duty soldiers and people

involved with the military who have

allowed me to have the freedom to live

this crazy life that I've had so thank

you and this is gonna be for you okay

let it rip

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