What are your suggestions for overcoming their subconscious reward/punishment system? If your theory is correct, I’d like to try to help my DIL.
First, here is a simple test. Close your eyes and say to yourself 5 times silently “I love myself.” Now stop and be aware of the level of muscle tension in your body, especially around the lower neck area.
Second, close your eyes and say to yourself 5 times silently “I hate myself.” Again, be aware of your muscle tension.
Do not allow your intellect to dictate what you feel. Just feel it.
In people with a reversed reward punishment system, the muscle tension is quite high during the positive statement, and relaxed during the negative statement. While this is quite simple, it works as a screening process.
I have never found a person with cancer who did not have this reversal.
The problem occurs in the methodology used to store childhood memories. They are usually blocked from retrieval in order to protect the child. This is what causes most childhood amnesia for adults trying to recollect events. One of the best techniques is to use an emotional bridging technique as they allow access. However, much anxiety pain is caused by the bodies defense mechanism trying to block the retrieval of these memories. Having a competent therapist guide you through the process is by far the best. Cognitive therapy NEVER works to remove or repair an emotional memory. At best it blocks access to it.
This is a little more complex than I can put in a few paragraphs. Safety is really important while you are going through the process as it can become overwhelming otherwise.