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Dr. Hanscom's Blog Escaping Your Family – The Crab Bucket

Discussion in 'Mindbody Blogs (was Practitioner's Corner)' started by Back In Control Blog, Oct 13, 2013.

  1. Back In Control Blog

    Back In Control Blog Well known member

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    I knew from my first year in practice that having a family member on disability was a significant risk factor for becoming disabled. I did not understand this problem for many years but eventually saw how powerful a force this is.
    The initial download to your brain
    I learned through the Hoffman process that our behavioral patterns are laid down by your family. They discuss “the negative love syndrome”, which I feel is correct. However, I have a simpler explanation is that your brain is an empty slate that is just downloaded. Around 12 years of age you begin to express these patterns as you move out into the world. You either adopt a given pattern or you reject it. The problem is that either way you are a reflection of your parent’s patterns and you are not living connected to who you are – “your authentic self.”
    Passing on of patterns
    If one or both of your parents are disabled you might rebel and become a super-achiever or become disabled yourself. Either way you are not running the show. Your family patterns are. Of course your parents had the same experience with their parents and so on. Until you become aware of the impact of your family’s programming on your nervous system you cannot live your life on your terms.
    Did you graduate from high school with your dream to become disabled??
    I am more than convinced that the vast majority of people on disability hate being on it. You are under the control of a person (claims examiner) or system that is depersonalized and unresponsive. In addition to the frustration of being in pain you have also lost control of your life. However the family patterning of being disabled may be an even stronger force. It is a deep familiar pattern.
    Breaking Loose?
    Additionally, if you decide to break loose (and it is doable) at least some or all of your family will not let you. I used to think that family members would be ecstatic to watch a sibling or offspring become pain free. Many of them are but many are not. First of all you are challenging their paradigm of who you are. This is particularly true if you are dependent on that sibling or parent. You are challenging their role as a “caretaker”. Second, as you get better it calls them out. You are doing and have done it – getting better. What about them? Why are they not pursuing the same path?


    Triggers

    Another huge problem is that your family is the deepest source of your negative “triggers”. It was in this environment that your negative patterns were created and it is not possible to be around your family without these being set off on a regular basis. The eventual goal of the somatic work with the DOCC project is to “de-engergize” them, but initially you often need to put distance between you and your family. Eventually you will be able to enjoy your family at a much deeper level.
    The holidays
    I was reminded of this problem in a very profound manner a couple of years ago. I had worked with a severely disabled gentleman who had a marked decrease in pain and improvement in his quality of life as he worked with the DOCC project. Every holiday was a disaster as his family overtly reminded him that he was “not normal” nor ever would be. Finally about a year ago he caved in and descended back into his familiar anger patterns. His life is now more miserable than ever.
    The crab bucket
    I ran across a metaphor I am sharing with you from Wikipedia. Crab fishermen never need to put a lid on the bucket of crabs they have trapped. As soon as one tries to escape several other crabs will grab onto it and pull it back into the bucket.
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    Why be successful?
    There have been multiple surveys showing that if a given person is successful that very few others are truly happy for their victories. They become jealous and backbiting. How often are you excited another person’s success, especially if they are a close friend? Why do we instinctively jump to the thought, “Why not me?”
    From elementary school on being different or unique, either in a positive or negative way, is grounds for being bullied. It would be more enjoyable and interesting to celebrate differences?
    Breaking loose from your family and its patterns is one of your biggest obstacles on your road to a fulfilling and pain free life. What is your role in preventing others close to you from being successful?
    We are all on this planet together. Can we not rise above our basic nature and give each other a break?
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