The sexual abuse Lisa experienced and the reaction of her mother are hypnotized to have created a degree of disorganized attachment in Lisa. Additionally, Lisa presented with multiple risk factors for BDP or for the development of BDP in adulthood. The following addressed symptoms of insecure attachment and BDP that were exhibited by Lisa.
Lisa presented as having an insecure attachment as she had rapids shifts in her state of mind and had a difficult time with her affect regulation. Lisa also presented with a push-pull style in relationships, for example, she would hug me, ask me to stay, tell me how much she liked me (loved me) and within minutes would snap at me for no apparent reason. It could be argued that Lisa was idealizing me and then demonizing me and rather quickly. Lisa also had a difficult time being attuned to her own children and assisting them in their affect regulation. Additionally, when she felt threatened (emotionally or physically) “she was unable to regulate her emotional responses, she had disruptive behaviors, impaired attention and cognition, and impaired coping skills” (Foley, n.d., slide 11.). Her reaction to negative stimulus could have triggered implicit memories that would have caused automatic responses that were emotionally based. Lisa appeared to be triggered by adults in positions of power that she had made some form of connection with. For example, Lisa was asked to leave the school that she was attending after repeated angry outbursts. I cannot say what transpired, as I was not there when these things happen. What I do know is the staff members at the facility spoke highly of Lisa in general, encouraged her, and presented as warm and supportive. Lisa also spoke highly of the staff and never complained about the school. Between what I witnessed first hand and how Lisa described the environment and staff of the school: I hypothesized that Lisa’s reaction to the stress at school was a result of her limited ability to regulate her emotions, to self-sooth, and/or she was triggered into a hyper-aroused state. Times where Lisa was triggered into a hyper-aroused state her brain would have been in survival mode. During times where Lisa was in survival mode, her reptilian brain would have taken over. “The reptilian brain is reliable, but tends to be somewhat rigid and compulsive: it controls fight, flight or freeze; attachment; submits urges in threatening or potentially traumatizing situations; and it is constantly scanning the environment” (Kiely, n.d., p.9). Additionally, Lisa’s reactions to negative stimulus may be a result of an overactive amygdala. A study on maltreated youth compared to non-maltreated youth using MRIs “showed elevated responses in the amygdala and other nodes of the salience network in response to negative emotional stimuli and the modulation of negative emotional responses” (McLaughlin, Peverill, Gold, & Sheridan, 2015, p. 559). McLaughlin, Peverill, Gold, & Sheridan (2015) also found that maltreated youth were able to use their cognitive abilities to regulate their reactions, which would explain why at times Lisa was able to control her reactions and other times she was not. In other words, she had a more difficult time when presented with negative stimulus, but would not always go into a fight, flight, fleet mode. Being that her mother reacted poorly to the abuse, it is possible that the closer Lisa became to a person, the more likely they could trigger a trauma response. In fact, Lisa appeared to have more control …show more content…
320). Lisa came from a low-income family, was sexually abused, and had a stressful childhood in addition to the abuse. I would also argue that her mother has a mental health disorder, which impacted how she interacted with Lisa in general, but most importantly impacts how she responded to Lisa’s needs as an infant and regarding the trauma she experienced. Lisa also presented with impulsive behaviors, for example, she abused substance and engaged in high-risk sexual activity on numerous occasions. Lisa was almost proud of her sexual encounters and her substance abuse. Though one cannot diagnose Lisa with BDP or predict that she will have BDP in the future based on the above, it is clear that Lisa was at higher risk of developing
Lisa presented as having an insecure attachment as she had rapids shifts in her state of mind and had a difficult time with her affect regulation. Lisa also presented with a push-pull style in relationships, for example, she would hug me, ask me to stay, tell me how much she liked me (loved me) and within minutes would snap at me for no apparent reason. It could be argued that Lisa was idealizing me and then demonizing me and rather quickly. Lisa also had a difficult time being attuned to her own children and assisting them in their affect regulation. Additionally, when she felt threatened (emotionally or physically) “she was unable to regulate her emotional responses, she had disruptive behaviors, impaired attention and cognition, and impaired coping skills” (Foley, n.d., slide 11.). Her reaction to negative stimulus could have triggered implicit memories that would have caused automatic responses that were emotionally based. Lisa appeared to be triggered by adults in positions of power that she had made some form of connection with. For example, Lisa was asked to leave the school that she was attending after repeated angry outbursts. I cannot say what transpired, as I was not there when these things happen. What I do know is the staff members at the facility spoke highly of Lisa in general, encouraged her, and presented as warm and supportive. Lisa also spoke highly of the staff and never complained about the school. Between what I witnessed first hand and how Lisa described the environment and staff of the school: I hypothesized that Lisa’s reaction to the stress at school was a result of her limited ability to regulate her emotions, to self-sooth, and/or she was triggered into a hyper-aroused state. Times where Lisa was triggered into a hyper-aroused state her brain would have been in survival mode. During times where Lisa was in survival mode, her reptilian brain would have taken over. “The reptilian brain is reliable, but tends to be somewhat rigid and compulsive: it controls fight, flight or freeze; attachment; submits urges in threatening or potentially traumatizing situations; and it is constantly scanning the environment” (Kiely, n.d., p.9). Additionally, Lisa’s reactions to negative stimulus may be a result of an overactive amygdala. A study on maltreated youth compared to non-maltreated youth using MRIs “showed elevated responses in the amygdala and other nodes of the salience network in response to negative emotional stimuli and the modulation of negative emotional responses” (McLaughlin, Peverill, Gold, & Sheridan, 2015, p. 559). McLaughlin, Peverill, Gold, & Sheridan (2015) also found that maltreated youth were able to use their cognitive abilities to regulate their reactions, which would explain why at times Lisa was able to control her reactions and other times she was not. In other words, she had a more difficult time when presented with negative stimulus, but would not always go into a fight, flight, fleet mode. Being that her mother reacted poorly to the abuse, it is possible that the closer Lisa became to a person, the more likely they could trigger a trauma response. In fact, Lisa appeared to have more control …show more content…
320). Lisa came from a low-income family, was sexually abused, and had a stressful childhood in addition to the abuse. I would also argue that her mother has a mental health disorder, which impacted how she interacted with Lisa in general, but most importantly impacts how she responded to Lisa’s needs as an infant and regarding the trauma she experienced. Lisa also presented with impulsive behaviors, for example, she abused substance and engaged in high-risk sexual activity on numerous occasions. Lisa was almost proud of her sexual encounters and her substance abuse. Though one cannot diagnose Lisa with BDP or predict that she will have BDP in the future based on the above, it is clear that Lisa was at higher risk of developing