It was previously believed that these reflexes nearly always integrate in childhood and are largely ignored in western medicine unless needed to rule out an upper motor neuron defect such as a stroke or to establish brain death. New data have emerged, however, that primitive reflexes are NOT always integrated in childhood, are reactivated in any kind of trauma and can remain active for years following a traumatic event in both children and adults (Mastagova). For the purposes of this discussion, it is helpful to clarify what is meant by trauma, since it is unique for each person. Trauma, simply put, is any physical or emotional event that overwhelms the buffering capacity of the nervous system to maintain a sense of calm and to maintain an optimal environment for growth, rest and repair. Trauma is an internal experience in chemistry and emotional hormones, modulated by the ANS. The buffering capacity of the nervous system is created in childhood.
In childhood, when primitive reflexes are not integrated properly, they are called retained. Retained reflexes in children interfere with normal motor and sensory development: developmental delays, myelin issues and gait coordination delays, visual tracking deficits that contribute to ADD/ADHD, behavior issues, vision and hearing issues, lack of confidence, striving and perfectionism, emotional dysregulation, and feelings of overwhelm or hostility. Children raised in sympathetically charged environments that include fear, violence, addiction, abuse or abandonment also show marked retention of these primitive reflexes well beyond the time they should have been inhibited. [1] (Gieysztor EZ, 2018) The age at which these events take place will be deeply affecting of not only of the developing personality (Heller), but the buffering capacity in bonding and social interaction (Porges), and the developing physical body (muscles and frame). (Reich, Lowen). It is important to note that over-criticism, chronic emotional invalidation, or highly emotional or reactive parenting can often overwhelm a sensitive child's nervous system, preventing full integration. (Heller). (3)
Adults reactivate primitive reflexes after any type of trauma, either medical or emotional. Once activated, these individuals experience higher states of anxiety, restlessness, agitation, paranoia, and anger due to these higher levels of circulating stress hormones. These hormones target the HPA axis and are associated with high inflammation, spasticity, pain, autoimmune issues, demyelinating disease, and cardiovascular disease to name a few. [2] During states of fight-or-flight, parasympathetic activity is inhibited as resources are mobilized for defense and flight, in particular the gut Since these are involuntary processes, most adults don’t even know that a reflex has been reactivated. Many first responders, military personnel after combat, and medical staff show marked reactivation and engagement of these primitive reflexes.
A more descriptive term for what happens internally when primitive reflexes become active or remain un-integrated might be "primitive instincts" or "primitive emotions." Svetlana Mastugova, in her work with Reflex integration and PTSD refers to these as negative patterns of self-protection. Adults generally do NOT know when they have reactivated a reflex. Moshe Feldenkrais, founder and creator of Feldenkrais Technique (TM) said that all negative emotions in the end result in flexion, representing patterns of resistance and muscle tension..
[1] ACE is an indices of Adverse Childhood experience and is considered to be reflective of early developmental trauma.
[2] Hippocampus-Pituitary-Adrenals
(3) I have delineated
each author for easy reference if you want to look up the research. Each
aspect of therapy deals with a different aspect of the developing
nervous-emotional system, and all are accurate within their subset. None
of these present the entire picture.
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