Groff's perinatal matrices. Theoretical model of mental states before and during birth

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

We are accustomed to consider the moment of birth as the beginning of life. But didn't man exist before the first breath? Grof's perinatal matrices are an attempt by modern scientists to outline a model of intrauterine existence. How does the course of pregnancy affect the fate of the unborn child?

The point of view of official medicine

Throughout the existence of official science, great minds have insisted that, until the moment of birth, the human embryo cannot be considered anything more than just a fetus. This approach can be easily explained by a significant reduction in personal responsibility. Unprofessional activity can be covered up with the concept of medical error. Otherwise, any unfortunate outcome of pregnancy, including abortion, would have to be answered as if it were murder.

In addition, if we admit that even before the moment a person was born, he already has a mental perception of himself as a person, it will be necessary to rebuild not only the medical approach to pregnancy management, but also the legislative legal framework. So thattimid attempts to talk about prenatal memory are drowned out by the insistent rumble of dissent.

Theory of perinatal matrices

For the first time this concept was formulated in 1975 by Stanislav Grof, an American psychiatrist of Czech origin. Perinatal matrices, according to his teachings, are a model of human mental development at the stage of intrauterine existence and up to the moment of birth. In an attempt to understand what happens to a child in the womb from a psychological point of view, a wide variety of studies have been carried out. The biographical method, when attempts were made to trace the relationship between the course of pregnancy and the further character of a person, turned out to be not the most original. Particularly daring researchers have attempted to experience a state similar to that experienced by an infant during its own birth, by injecting a cocktail of chemical compounds, including adrenaline and LSD.

Unanimous opinion about the experience gained at the time when a person was born, scientists could not make. But some general pattern was found. It is obvious that a child in the womb, expelling him from his usual womb, experiences tremendous stress, similar to betrayal. In Grof's perinatal matrices, four main processes are identified that influence the further development of the psyche. Each stage is characterized by its distinctive features. The basic concepts are called by the scientist himself basic perinatal matrices (BPM).

Symbiosis with mother

It was not possible to establish exactly the beginning of the first stage. Some researchers believe that a necessary condition is the presence of the cerebral cortex. Its formation begins in the second half of pregnancy, at about 22 weeks. However, scientists who allow memory at the cellular level believe that the process starts already at the moment of conception.

Grof's first perinatal matrix is responsible for the energy balance of a person: openness to the world, ability to adapt and perception of one's own Self.

It has long been noticed that desired children, provided a he althy pregnancy, develop better and make contact easier. BPM explain this by the fact that it is at this stage that the ability to receive love, enjoy life, and feel worthy of all the best is born.

The child lives in conditions close to ideal:

• Protection from the dangers of the outside world.
• Comfortable ambient temperature.
• 24/7 nutrient supply.
• Sickness with amniotic fluid.

When the first stage is positive, the subconscious mind forms a program according to which life is beautiful, and the child is desired and loved. Otherwise, a behavior model is launched based on the feeling of uselessness. If thoughts of abortion are present, the fear of death will be embedded in the subconscious. Severe toxicosis creates the perception of oneself as a hindrance to others, causing a feeling of nausea.

Expulsion from Paradise

The beginning of the second stage roughly coincides with the first period of labor activity. During contractions, mother and child involuntarily inflict unbearable pain on each other. There are huge hormonal surges. The walls of the uterus put pressure on the baby, which causes response sensitive shocks in him with the whole body. Painful stress is passed from mother to fetus and vice versa, reinforcing each other's feelings of fear.

Groff's second perinatal matrix is called "Victim" by him. At this stage, the baby feels pain, pressure and no way out. A sense of guilt is laid: the good is not expelled and not subjected to suffering. At the same time, inner strength is formed: the ability to endure pain, perseverance, the desire to survive.

In the second matrix, two negative influences are possible: absence and excess. The first is formed during caesarean section. The most severe pain stops suddenly, without any action on the part of the child. In the future, it is difficult for such people to bring what they started to the end. They are not able to persevere and fight for their interests. Constantly expecting that now everything will resolve itself.

Excessive pain during protracted labor forms a habit in the individual to pressure from outside. As an adult, a person subconsciously expects a push to start decisive action. Possible predisposition to masochism.

There is speculation that the craze for narcotic substances is caused by the prevalence of drug-induced labor induction. The subconscious mind writes down a program that exactly chemicaldrugs help to escape from fear and pain.

It has been observed that people react differently to stressful situations. Some are resolutely looking for a way out, others seem to freeze in anticipation of the end. It is possible that the reasons for this behavior are in the initial choice that was made in the womb.

Struggle for survival

The third matrix is formed at the moment of birth. A person is forced to be born even if he wants to stay inside and do nothing. It is on how the birth ended that further behavior in difficult life situations depends:

• An active desire to get out of the clutches is reflected in future decisions to take responsibility.
• With caesarean sections and rushed labors, people don't gain experience in fighting for their own interests.
• The lingering current manifests itself in the ensuing lifelong struggle, creating fictitious enemies and obstacles as needed.

The third phase, according to Grof, is especially important. It is at this stage that most patterns of behavior in later life are laid. The scientist compares it with mythological labyrinths and a dense forest that stand in the way of fairy-tale heroes. Overcoming the first difficulties will become the basis for the emergence of future courage and determination to fight for your happiness. If the child passed this test only with outside help, in the future he will constantly wait for outside help.

Liberation

The fourth matrix is formed from the momentfirst breath and for a week after birth. It is unique in that it is created in a conscious state, therefore, amenable to adjustment throughout life.

The birth pangs are over, the pressure has stopped. The supply of oxygen brought relief from asphyxia. It became easier than it was. But much worse than being in the womb.

It is on how the child spends the first hours and days after birth that the perception of their own capabilities and freedom in the future will depend.

When the current is negative, the newborn is swaddled tightly, making it impossible to move, and left alone to look at the ceiling. The subconscious mind writes down the program that all efforts were in vain. Incredible suffering ended with cold and a feeling of uselessness. In the future, such people grow up as inactive pessimists. Their psyche decides in advance that all efforts are in vain, and nothing good can happen in the end.

Unfortunately, in recent decades, everything has been done in maternity hospitals to create a traumatic matrix. Perhaps this explains the rampant alcoholism and the incredible scale of suicide attempts among the population.

Lifetime Award

With a positive variant, the child is laid out on the mother's belly in the first minutes and given a breast. Satisfying hunger and falling asleep to the beating of his own heart, the newborn understands: the work is rewarded. Whatever happens, then everything will be fine.

Subsequent days spent next to mom will finally shapea positive attitude towards life and a sense of self-neediness. Tactile pleasure, breast milk, peace and love are the main things that a person who has come into this world needs.

Of course, it happens that pregnancy and childbirth did not proceed as expected. It is possible that due to illness, the child was forced to be placed in a box immediately after birth. In this case, increased care and increased attention is required. Especially during the first year of life.

But loving mothers themselves understand this. And feel. No tables.