In February 2003, an article Entitled “Not so total recall” was published in the New Scientist magazine. Two neuro scientists conditioned a rat to have a fear of a box by simultaneously electrocuting its paws whilst showing it a box, very shortly the rat would become fearful of the box, this was now a conditioned response. Crucially the scientists then set out to de-condition the rat of it’s fear by injecting a n anti-protein agent which should have dissipated the neuro-transmitters which composed memory (sight, sound, smell, taste, feeling) then they showed the rat the box, but it was still fearful. However, when they simultaneously showed the rat the box and gave it the anti-protein agent, the rat lost it’s fear. The conclusion from the experiment was that memory is most vulnerable to change at the very time that we dislike it! That is the very time when the emotional intensity of the memory makes us withdraw or fight, thus writing more fearful emotion over the memory! A vicious circle
Hypnotherapy in Edinburgh
Rational Emotive Imagery.
Maxie Maultsby created REI for Al Ellis. He would ask his clients to identify the situation (Activating event), the thought (Belief) and the feeling this created (Consequences). They would then collaborate to create a more effective coping statement (B) then ask the client to imagine himself entering the past problematic situation (A) then ask them to tell themselves the coping statement in the hope that this would move the symptom of for example anxiety into concern.
Ellis then changed the technique, saying that Maultsby’s version was not evocative enough. Ellis asked his clients to visualise them in the situation (A), then to actively bring on the feeling associated with it, (although memory would bring it back anyway), then he would ask them to stay with the feeling for one minute and not to think of something different or to analyse it, but to observe it (akin to watching a TV programme) then after one minute, via the clients self-talk allow them self concern. As a result, their thoughts would spontaneously change themselves into amore optimistic/positive outcome. This is martial arts for the mind. Ellis uses the ferocity of the memory to defeat itself. Dr Weekes called this letting the first shock pass. “In Australia, if we stand up against a wave we get dumped on the beach, if we go under it we come out the other side unscathed” This way of dealing with distressing memory and simultaneously reducing the demand into concern thus allowing freedom to function more effectively is in my opinion, without doubt the greatest of all therapeutic interventions ever created. It is a master stroke by Ellis and is worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize and Knighthood all in one.
He has successfully got the client to write over the memory when it is at its most vulnerable. He moves the memory/belief from anxiety to concern; concern is liveable overcome-able human emotion which then enables you to move towards happiness. Too many approaches try to go for Nirvana too quickly. How do you eat an elephant? In small pieces.