My Gray Matters Al Babich, Ed.S, NCC. LPC my-gray-matters

1. My Gray MattersAl Babich, Ed.S, NCC. LPCwww.my-gray-matters.org

2. MSCA Fall Conference 2013Mental Hygiene and the Quality of Life

3. What do you think is :Intentional/Reactive Life Share with the person next to you what you believe is a Reactive Life. Share with the person next to you what you believe is an Intentional Life

4. Paradigm Philosophy Psychology Physiology Neurology Spirituality

5. Philosophy "philosophy" can refer to "the most basic beliefs, concepts, and attitudes of an individual or group". The word "philosophy" comes from the Ancient Greek (philosophia), which literally means "love of wisdom Intentional Life is a philosophy of living that manages choices for a quality life.

6. Psychology Experience Interpretation Integration

7. Psychology Experience (Internal and External) Interpretation (Creating Meaning) Integration (Register for Memory or Skill Development or Action)

8. Experience

12. Integration 2x2=4

13. Physiology The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is classically divided into two subsystems: the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS) and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) which operate independently in some functions and interact co-operatively in others. The sympathetic system is often considered the "fight or flight" system, while the parasympathetic system is often considered the "rest and digest" or "feed and breed"system.

14. Sympathetic Nervous System • *Increasing heart rate and blood pressure*Shunting blood away from the skin & viscera & into skeletal muscles*Dilating the bronchi to improve oxygenation*Dilating the pupils (perhaps to enhance visual acuity)*Mobilizing stored energy, thereby providing glucose for the brain and fatty acids for muscles • Sympathetic nerves to sweat glands promote secretion of sweat, thereby helping the body cool.*By inducing piloerection (erection of hair), sympathetic nerves can promote heat conservation.

15. Sympathetic Nervous System • Symptoms of SNS Disorders • Blood pressure problems like high blood pressureErectile dysfunction in menHeart diseasesTrouble with breathing and swallowingHeadacheMemory lossTremors, seizuresLoss of muscle strengthSlurred speech

16. Parasympathetic Nervous System • The functions of the parasympathetic nervous system include slowing down your heartbeat, lowering your blood pressure, and increasing blood flow to your skin. Its main purpose in doing all this is to reverse the effects caused to the body by the sympathetic nervous system. • The parasympathetic nervous system antagonize the SNS and returns the body back to its relaxed state.

17. Interoception • “The system of interoception as a whole constitutes ‘the material me’ and relates to how we perceive feelings from our bodies that determine our mood, sense of well‐being and emotions.” • Clare J. Fowler (Book review: VISCERAL SENSORY NEUROSCIENCE: INTEROCEPTION • Monitors internal homeostasis regulating the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System

18. Interoception Experience • First row stand • Phobias (Public Speaking) • Socializing (Parties-What do you worry about) • Interoception and Interpretation (feeling then attribution) • Mutual Admiration (What’s that usually called and how does it dictate behavior?)

19. Anterior InsulaIn humans, a meta-representation of the primary interoceptive activity is engendered in the right anterior insula, which seems to provide the basis for the subjective image of the material self as a feeling (sentient) entity, that is, emotional awareness.

27. Neurology • Triune Brain Theory

28. Can You Eat It?

29. Will It Eat You?

30. Can You Mate With It?

31. Default Brain • Using the Triune Brain Theory, which part of the brain default during an (Psychology) experience.

32. Default Brain • What Autonomic Nervous System is engaged during Stress?

33. Brain Development

34. Human Development • Infants • Children • Adolescents—Its lethal • More adolescents die every year (23,662) due to accidents, suicide and homicide (Center for Disease Control) then all the deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan for the entire wars (ten or more years).

35. Comparison of deaths of Adolescents and Combatants in Mideast

36. Executive Function • Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

37. Prefrontal Cortex (PFC)

39. Prefrontal Cortex • to differentiate among conflicting thoughts • determine good and bad, • better and best, • same and different, • future consequences of current activities, • working toward a defined goal, • prediction of outcomes, expectation based on actions, • social "control" (the ability to suppress urges that, if not suppressed, could lead to socially unacceptable outcomes).

40. Attention • Attention is the synchronization of neural firings generally initiated by the Prefrontal Cortex to neural networks in specialized parts of the brain. • Assumptions: • Neural networks are connected • Neurotransmitters are adequately accessible • “Neurons that fire together, wire together.” (Hebb)

41. Attention and Mindfulness • Brain Wave is Alpha (physical and mental relaxation, although aware of what is happening around us) • Brain Activation is Prefrontal Cortex, Anterior Cingulate, Insula, Hypothalamus etc. • Neurotransmitters are Dopamine and Serotonin. • Autonomic Nervous System is Parasympathetic. (Calm, Peaceful) • Interoception is pleasurable.

42. Mindful Experience • Breathe

43. Reward Circuitry

44. Rewards System

45. Reward System

46. Fear and Anxiety

47. CompassionAnterior Cingulate

48. Intentional Life is a philosophy of living that manages choices for a quality life. • What principals in Psychology, Physiology, Neurology could provide for an Intentional Life? • How do you do it?

49. Intentional Life • Psychology • Physiology • Neurology • Spirituality

50. Psychology Experience Interpretation Integration