word of the day - neurogenesis

​         Okay, so this word doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. But what is it? Why is it important? Breaking it down, “neuro” is a prefix that identifies brain activity. “Genesis” is of Latin origin and means beginnings. Put them together and the word “neurogenesis” identifies our brain’s ability to create new pathways based on our mindset and changing circumstances.
          Back in the day, brain scientists believed that our brains matured from birth to age 25. At that point, it was asserted that brain development plateaued. We were left with all the neuropathways developed up to that point. Historically, this is like the flat earth theory people believed until global exploration.
          In the past 30 years, however, research has found that our brains continue to grow and develop new neural pathways throughout our lifetimes. How cool is that?
          “Okay, Andrew,” I started with my next patient. “You look a mess. What’s going on? How are you feeling?”
          “You got me, Doc” Andy sighed and sunk his chin into his chest. “I’m really stuck. I dunno. Everything’s a mess. I keep doin’ and sayin’ dumb stuff that just gets me deeper in trouble.”
          “Can’t get much lower than that,” I concluded. “Can you give me a current example of the mess?”
          “Yeah, well, my boss at work gave me a project to do. I kept putting it off until the due date and then threw something together. Of course, the project sucked and he chewed me out.” Andrew took a deep breath and then paused.
          “And then?” I encouraged.
          “Well, I got home in a bad mood after that and just let Crystal have it, even though she hadn’t done anything to provoke me.” He got up and paced the office. “She fussed at me, cried, and then went to our bedroom and locked herself in. I got a 6-pack, slumped in my recliner, and got drunk. I slept on the couch that night.”
          “Wow!” I offered in conclusion, “Yep. That’s a mess. Let me help you break it all down and then forge a new path so that something similar never happens again.”
          We spent the rest of his session, and several more including some couple therapy, understanding his presenting problem and then re-tooling his response pattern. Andrew was stuck on events in his life, feeling incapable of “making it right.” I encouraged him to start with his feelings and focusing on parts of his “stuff” over which he has control.
He embraced how extreme words and actions exacerbated his response pattern. I cued him to avoid absolutes, like always, ever, never, only, should, could, would, and must. I helped him develop to-do lists to avoid falling behind. He started using catch phrases like “How was your day, dear?” to include others in his debriefing and emotional space.
With these and other tools he started using daily, Andrew found himself approaching life in a proactive, engaging, more positive way. Clearly, his brain had discarded broken and unhelpful neuropathways. Neurogenesis was now fully engaged with his embrace of the mentalligent psychotherapy (MPT) strategies of mindfulness, positive psychology, and cognitive behavioral interventions.
To read more of Andrew’s healing journey, buy your copy of my new book, The Healing Journey: Overcoming Adversity on the Path to the Good Life on amazonbooks.com. Follow this link: https://a.co/d/0dxH5xOL.   Blessings,  Dr. Jon

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