(Post 2 in a series. Click here to read from the beginning.)
Why does my subconscious still lock the doors and sound the alarm, even when there is NO threat to my life in the moment? What exactly is my subconscious mind so afraid of? What exactly is this inner bodyguard trying to protect me from? I’ll address those questions, in short order. But first it is important to know HOW this over-protective guard might show up in daily life.
For some people, their physical bodies “act out” in some way. In other words, they become “symptomatic.” They may have some sort of chronic pain. Or they may have cardiovascular issues (tachycardia, bradycardia, palpitations, lightheadedness, fainting/passing out).
Or, it might manifest as gastrointestinal issues (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, bloating). It could manifest as neurological/ sensory issues (chronic fatigue, brain fog, headaches and sensitivity to light or sound.
Another possibility is an inability to regulate body temperature (feeling excessively hot or cold — excessive sweating [hyperhidrosis] or lack of sweating). And yet other possibilities include respiratory & urinary issues: (shortness of breath [dyspnea], rapid breathing or frequent urination).
For this class of people, it becomes blatantly obvious that their “inner guard” is working a LOT of overtime! Dr. Candace Pert was a world-renowned neuroscientist and pharmacologist. Consider the title of one of her most notable audio books:
Your Body is Your Subconscious Mind!
Having said that, for others, it may be less obvious that their “inner guard” is working a LOT of overtime! In this class of people, the trigger-happy inner guard shows up as an EXTREMELY STRONG INNER RESISTANCE to growth and change – to doing things that they know to be in their best interest.
They are kept from moving forward in their lives. They are “suspended in time” so to speak. Their inner guard has “locked the door” and it feels to that person as if the “guard” has thrown away the key! It’s just impossible to move forward! They literally believe that they cannot!
So why does our subconscious still lock the doors and sound the alarm, even when there is NO physical threat to us in the moment? What exactly is this inner guard trying to protect us from? That can, and often does, in part, depend on one’s personal history. But there are some universal triggers that can cause our subconscious to over-react. So, let’s start there
Social Death
Remember, there was a time (to our ancestors) when being kicked out of the tribe (REJECTION) did in fact mean literal physical death. So, keep in mind that our subconscious hasn’t quite caught up to modern life.
Our subconscious might also be protecting us from JUDGEMENT. The fear is that if we show our true self, we will be cast out of the tribe. Again, this is ancient programming. Our subconscious mind simply hasn’t “gotten the memo” about things being different in the “modern era.”
Our subconscious might be protecting us from EMBARRASSMENT, SHAME, OR HUMILIATION. We might not be cast out of the tribe, but experiencing embarrassment, shame, or humiliation is extremely uncomfortable and that might be perceived by our subconscious as a “fate WORSE than death.”
The Unknown / The Loss of Control
Our subconscious prefers a predictable “bad” over an unpredictable “good”. If we are entering a new phase of life, a new job, a new relationship, or simply choosing to “do something different” our brain might be screaming “Stop!” simply because it doesn’t have a map for this territory yet. And that is scary! We are not quite sure what the outcome will be. Our subconscious is protecting us from the unknown.
A Changing Identity
Sometimes, our subconscious is protecting our fixed identity.
- Perhaps you have always seen yourself as “a loner.”
- Suppose you have always portrayed yourself as the “good guy” or “good girl” – the one is who is always agreeable – who never “rocks the boat.”
- Or imagine that you see yourself as a person that doesn’t have needs.
- Imagine that you see yourself as the “powerful” one . . . always in control.
If we start to make a change to something other than that (e.g., we start seeking companionship and intimacy — or we start expressing our needs — or we stop being so perfect — or we start allowing ourself to show vulnerability), our subconscious might sabotage us to keep us “safe.” It does so — by not letting us challenge the way we see ourself, or the way others have always seen us.
In short, our subconscious would rather stick to the identity it recognizes. It gets more than a little nervous when we attempt to “do something different” – when we attempt to stray away from that known identity. In this case, the threat is to our self-image . . . our ego . . . our sense of self. To the subconscious, this is no small matter. Quite the contrary. It is like a mini-death!
Memories from the Past
that you may not even consciously remember
Our subconscious is an amazing pattern recognition machine. If our current situation shares even a tiny resemblance (e.g., 5%) to a painful experience from the past, our brain will likely trigger a “protection” response. IT ISN’T REACTING TO WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW! It is reacting to what happened then. However, we don’t necessarily know that, consciously, “in the moment.”
OK, that’s enough for now!
I suggest you take some time to let this much settle in.
Start to become more aware
of this happening
in the moment it is happening.