The older part of our brain has a lot of things going on which pretty much happen automatically.
The olfactory bulb
The olfactory bulb is part of this system, which explains how smells can trigger memories and emotions, and help in creating long term memories.
One of the earliest smells I remember is the smell of carnations at the funeral of my great grandmother, when I was three. Until I worked in a florist shop and smelled carnations on a daily basis, that association remained; but has now been replaced with other memories and associations.
One of my earliest emotional memories is also from that funeral. One of my cousins opened his arms and I thought it was for me. It was for my two year old sister. I ran to him, only to be humiliated. Even my mother was laughing as she gathered me up.
Did I decide from that moment forward that no arms open were for me? That I couldn't count on affection? Not to respond to affection for fear of humilation? I have no idea; but the fact that memory is branded on my brain is a function of emotion and scent.
How can I turn these sorts of negative emotions and memories around?
I was once given an exercise by a therapist to write a happy ending to a sad memory. I've written about that earlier in this blog. I'm thinking that just as my association of carnations with funerals and death changed after repeated exposure in a different setting (the flower shop); that perhaps I can change my emotional response to this memory by "rewriting" it with a happy ending and perhaps association with a different scent.
As much as I enjoy, very much, various smells and find them soothing; I haven't given much weight to aroma therapy. This is a knowledge area I could revisit and learn more about, practice more often.
I know for a fact that using soft music or nature recordings to calm me and practice meditation, can help modulate emotions, with repetition.
I have hope that it is possible to "rewire" the brain through learning practices that will help me overcome the places where I get stuck in my thinking and feeling.
On that note, I would like to take a look at the function of music in memories and emotions. Another response mechanism which involves the "old brain".
The olfactory bulb
The olfactory bulb is part of this system, which explains how smells can trigger memories and emotions, and help in creating long term memories.
One of the earliest smells I remember is the smell of carnations at the funeral of my great grandmother, when I was three. Until I worked in a florist shop and smelled carnations on a daily basis, that association remained; but has now been replaced with other memories and associations.
One of my earliest emotional memories is also from that funeral. One of my cousins opened his arms and I thought it was for me. It was for my two year old sister. I ran to him, only to be humiliated. Even my mother was laughing as she gathered me up.
Did I decide from that moment forward that no arms open were for me? That I couldn't count on affection? Not to respond to affection for fear of humilation? I have no idea; but the fact that memory is branded on my brain is a function of emotion and scent.
How can I turn these sorts of negative emotions and memories around?
I was once given an exercise by a therapist to write a happy ending to a sad memory. I've written about that earlier in this blog. I'm thinking that just as my association of carnations with funerals and death changed after repeated exposure in a different setting (the flower shop); that perhaps I can change my emotional response to this memory by "rewriting" it with a happy ending and perhaps association with a different scent.
As much as I enjoy, very much, various smells and find them soothing; I haven't given much weight to aroma therapy. This is a knowledge area I could revisit and learn more about, practice more often.
I know for a fact that using soft music or nature recordings to calm me and practice meditation, can help modulate emotions, with repetition.
I have hope that it is possible to "rewire" the brain through learning practices that will help me overcome the places where I get stuck in my thinking and feeling.
On that note, I would like to take a look at the function of music in memories and emotions. Another response mechanism which involves the "old brain".
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