Haunting memories, thoughts, or images are found in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a major mental health problem affecting millions worldwide. A new clinical trials study by mental imagery researcher Robert Roerich, M.D. seeks to explore the mind’s ability to heal memory of stressful life experiences.
Roerich has coined the term senticon for mental imagery.From the Latin “sentire”, meaning to feel and the Greek “icon”, a symbolic representation, this word encompasses all sensory perception, not just visual. PTSD is a whole body reaction that may include sound, smell, touch, and taste besides visual memory of the original trauma.
“What appears to record the original trauma is the presence of strong emotion associated with a life threatening event,” Roerich states.
“The mind captures emotion as a primary reaction to severe stress. That is something no one has to think about beforehand, we feel it. A senticon is produced as a result, which serves a useful purpose in remembering what is threatening us, but can by itself be painful over time if it persists in people who develop PTSD.”
“PTSD is a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.Many people will not seek professional help because of the fear of being perceived as weak or psychotic. Only 5% of people see a psychiatrist out of fear of doing so, seeking instead to confide in friends, loved ones, or their family doctor.”
Roerich’s clinical trials study seeks police officers and veterans who are in therapy for PTSD. A new mental imagery treatment, Senticon Procedure, is being compared to whatever therapy the patient is receiving, with pre and post treatment testing to gauge severity of PTSD.