THE ICEBERG THEORY is the theory behind the way in which our minds work. The three main parts are the conscious, subconscious and the unconscious. The conscious mind only being the tip of the iceberg. There is so much more to us than that. We only usually see the tip of the iceberg in anyone we meet.
THE ICEBERG THEORY is used worldwide to describe each part of the human psyche . Most of our behavior is unconscious although we are not completely aware of it. As a result you never really know someone until you go below the surface. Our daily tasks are performed by the conscious mind. The subconscious deals with dreaming and what happens automatically. When we learn something it is not truly learnt until it is in the subconscious.
SUBCONSCIOUS AND UNCONSCIOUS
The subconscious is the in between stage of consciousness. When we sleep or are under hypnosis the subconscious is in play. Much easier to access, it’s the best place to start if you are trying to change you daily behavior. If you are unconscious, you are not responsive to external stimuli. This is why trauma, especially that suffered in childhood can remain for years if not for life. The conscious mind deals with everyday cognition. When there is too much going on, it acts much like a computer and stores some thoughts in the subconscious for a later date.
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET OVERLOADED
SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE GET OVERLOADED ? we have a breakdown. When there is no room left in the conscious mind, the over spill goes to the subconscious so we can call on it later. If we are not able to slow down and deal with those “files” that have been stored then they build up and the subconscious overloads also. As a result we have a mental breakdown. In times gone by we would be sent to an asylum. Now there is much more tolerance of mental health. We are not out of the woods yet though. There are many more options for treatment these days and we can educate ourselves to recognize the warning signs and slow ourselves down. We have all said ” I can’t deal with this now”, that’s when we suppress emotions to the subconscious part of the mind.
SUPPRESSED OR REPRESSED
SUPPRESSED OR REPRESSED when it comes to emotions, there is a difference. If we suppress an emotion or thought then we do so because we don’t want to deal with it and so we purposely push it down. If the suppressed emotion goes to the subconscious, it will keep coming to the surface of the iceberg when we least expect it to be dealt with. Repression is an evasion of reality. We bury something so deep that it goes to the unconscious and once there it is very difficult to get to. It will then affect the way we behave without us realizing that’s why. If we don’t recognize the issue, it can be that we end up living with it for life. When the subconscious becomes overloaded and it throws some of the stored emotions and thoughts out we can feel overwhelmed .
OVERWHELM
THE ICEBERG THEORY
OVERWHELM is the state of mind we feel when all the thoughts in our conscious and unconscious minds jumble up together. At this point we are starting to see below the water line of the iceberg. There is much more to be seen. In fact there is more of our psyche below the water line than above it. If we allow it to happen, sometimes a good hypnotherapist can get right down into the unconscious. If that happens, some deeper issues can then be dealt with. A word of caution, once you get there you have to be prepared to deal with the real you. You are likely to change your basic character. Remember some traumas are what make us all unique.