Perspectives on emotional memory images and the persistence of pain

Abstract

Multiple influences prevent recovery from pain. Our viewpoint is that non-conscious emotional memory images (EMIs) triggers outdated stress responses contributing to the intractability of pain. In this perspectives article we explore the concept that EMIs contribute to the persistence of pain. We contend that psychophysiological “stress” responses, resulting from first-time, novel and unprecedented pernicious or adverse events form EMIs within very short time frames (split-second learning). Subsequently, these EMIs are re-triggered in daily living, “re-playing” stress responses. We postulate that EMIs continually “raise the alarm” to socio-ecological stimuli by re-triggering the HPA-axis and amplifying neural input associated with threat, fear, anxiety, and pain, creating a debilitating state of psychophysiological dis-ease. We position the EMI within a philosophical debate on the nature and locus of memory and explain how the EMI, irrespective of whether it is a “thing” or a metaphor, can create a basis of understanding for the client to grasp. We describe a therapeutic approach (Split-Second Unlearning) to “clear” EMIs and the “stickiness” of pain and help people embark on a healing journey. This involves surveillance of clients for micro-expression(s) signifying an in-the-moment stress response, representative of the presence of an EMI, and encouraging the client to become a curious observer within/of their own experience. This helps the client detach their EMI from its stress response. We contend that this occurs rapidly without the need to get bogged down in a whole-life narrative. We advocate further exploration of our EMI model of dis-ease in the context of intractable pain.

Folie et Société: eroding the body–mind relationship via dysfunctional paternalistic systems

“…Hudson et al 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1324303 Frontiers in Psychology 05 frontiersin.org parental or caregiver directives could significantly jeopardize a child's health and well-being, potentially leading to adverse or even fatal consequences. Therefore, the induced may obey rules that make no logical sense to an outside observer (Hudson and Johnson, 2023b). On a larger scale, the SARS-Cov2 pandemic saw the widespread utilization of fear and psychological nudges (Almqvist and Andersson, 2021) by governmental "caregivers" to secure public compliance.…”

“…Activities that involve elements of both uncontrollability and social evaluation lead to significant alterations in cortisol and adrenocorticotropin hormone levels, as well as extended periods of recovery ( Dickerson and Kemeny, 2004 ). EMIs have been defined as: “ Trauma induced, non-conscious, contiguously formed, multimodal, mental imagery, which trigger(s) an amnesic, anachronistic, stress response within a split-second .” ( Hudson and Johnson, 2022 ) The SSU model suggests that the continual activation of this bodily stress response can, over time, lead to various conditions that adversely impact the mind–body relationship, mental health function, and the development of body-focused disorders in adolescence, as well as a myriad of psychophysiological conditions ( Hudson and Johnson, 2023b ).…”

“…Noncompliance with parental or caregiver directives could significantly jeopardize a child’s health and well-being, potentially leading to adverse or even fatal consequences. Therefore, the induced may obey rules that make no logical sense to an outside observer ( Hudson and Johnson, 2023b ).…”

Past Adversity Influencing Now (PAIN): perspectives on the impact of temporal language on the persistence of pain

“…( 39 ). We argued that EMIs are re-triggered by encounters broadly akin to the original experience, continually revivifying the past and contributing to states of psychophysiological dis-ease, influencing the persistence of pain ( 40 – 42 ). Importantly, the anachronistic nonconscious nature of EMIs renders the person amnesic to the original traumatic experience and bereft of reasons why they experience persistence of pain ( Figure 2A ).…”

“…The practitioner makes the patient aware of these micro-expressions and encourages curious exploration of the influence of EMIs on temporal positions of their condition (pain experience) so that the patient can learn to separate the EMI from the stress, clearing the EMI, metaphorically or literally, and alleviating discomfort ( Figure 2B ). For case vignettes see ( 37 , 39 , 40 ).…”