Have you ever wondered why certain things in your life—like managing stress, focusing at work, or even feeling confident in social situations—seem harder for you than others? The answer might not be what you expect. While it’s easy to blame external factors like stress or life experiences, there could be something happening beneath the surface: retained primitive reflexes.
These reflexes are instinctual responses we’re born with to help us survive in our early years. As we grow, these reflexes should fade away, but sometimes they don’t, and that’s when challenges arise. If certain reflexes remain active into adulthood, they can affect everything from coordination to emotional regulation—and yes, even your confidence.
The good news? You can address these retained reflexes and rebuild your confidence through some simple steps you can start right at home. Here’s how.
1. How the Startle Reflex Affects Your Confidence
The Moro reflex, or startle reflex, is one of the earliest survival mechanisms, helping babies become aware of sudden changes in their environment. However, if this reflex doesn’t disappear, it can cause a hypersensitivity to external stimuli—like loud noises, bright lights, or unexpected movements.
This constant state of alertness can leave you feeling on edge, making it difficult to stay calm in stressful situations. Over time, this heightened sensitivity can wear down your emotional resilience and leave you feeling less confident in handling unexpected challenges.
How to Recognize It:
- You startle easily at loud noises or sudden movements.
- Bright lights or crowded places leave you feeling overwhelmed.
- You often feel anxious or on edge, even in relatively calm environments.
How to Tackle It: Calming Your Nervous System
To reduce this reflex’s impact, you can try these simple exercises to calm your nervous system:
- Deep breathing: Whenever you feel yourself getting anxious, take slow, deep breaths. Breathe in through your nose for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, and exhale for 4 seconds. This can help your body feel more grounded and in control.
- Swaying: Gently rock back and forth while standing or sitting. This rhythmic motion has a calming effect and can help lower your stress levels.
- Weighted items: Use a weighted blanket or compression vest to provide your body with calming sensory input.
2. Overcoming Fear Paralysis and Taking Action
Do you find yourself feeling paralyzed by fear when faced with stressful situations? This could be due to a retained Fear Paralysis Reflex, which is meant to help infants freeze in the face of danger. If it remains active in adulthood, it can lead to social anxiety, procrastination, and an overwhelming fear of failure.
This reflex may be holding you back from taking risks and trying new things. It’s common to feel stuck, as if your brain and body are unable to move forward—even when you know that action is what’s needed.
How to Recognize It:
- You avoid trying new things, even when you want to.
- Social situations make you feel uncomfortable or anxious.
- You struggle with procrastination or feel frozen when facing challenges.
How to Tackle It: Gradual Exposure to Fear
Here are some strategies to help you push past this reflex:
- Small steps: Start by exposing yourself to low-risk, low-stress situations. For example, if socializing makes you anxious, start with a small gathering or a virtual meeting. Slowly work your way up to larger events.
- Challenge yourself: Set small, achievable goals. Completing these tasks will give you a sense of accomplishment, which can help you break out of the fear paralysis cycle.
- Track progress: Keep a journal of your small wins. Seeing how far you’ve come can build momentum and boost your confidence.
3. Improving Balance and Coordination with the TLR
Have you ever felt clumsy, or noticed you struggle with coordination during physical activities? This could be linked to a retained Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR), which helps with balance and spatial awareness. When this reflex doesn’t integrate properly, it can result in poor posture, difficulty with balance, and overall physical awkwardness.
This can lead to a lack of confidence in situations where coordination is required, like playing sports or even navigating through a crowded room. If your body isn’t responding the way you want it to, it can feel frustrating and affect how confident you feel in your skin.
How to Recognize It:
- You feel clumsy or uncoordinated in everyday activities.
- Poor posture, especially when sitting for long periods.
- You tire easily during physical activity.
How to Tackle It: Core Strength and Balance Exercises
Building your balance and coordination can help you feel more in control of your body:
- Core workouts: Focus on exercises that strengthen your core, like planks or yoga poses. A strong core improves posture and balance.
- Balance training: Stand on one leg for as long as you can, switching sides. Incorporate this into your daily routine to improve coordination.
- Stretching: Stretch regularly to release tension in your body and help improve your range of motion, which can enhance your balance.
4. Enhancing Focus and Posture with the STNR (H2)
Do you find it difficult to sit still or focus on tasks for long periods? The Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR) might still be active. This reflex helps with body coordination, but if retained, it can cause issues with concentration, posture, and focus.
If you struggle with sitting still or feel restless when you need to concentrate, this reflex may be the reason. It can also affect how confident you feel in professional settings where focus and attention are required for success.
How to Recognize It:
- You find it hard to concentrate on tasks for long periods.
- Sitting still makes you feel restless or uncomfortable.
- You often slouch or have poor posture when sitting at a desk.
How to Tackle It: Posture and Focus Drills
Improving your posture and focus can have a big impact on your confidence:
- Desk exercises: Take short breaks every 20 minutes to stretch and move around. This can help you refocus and improve posture.
- Cross-body exercises: Stand up and march in place, touching your right hand to your left knee and alternating sides. This helps improve coordination and concentration.
- Posture check: Make a habit of checking your posture while sitting. Keep your back straight and your feet flat on the ground. Good posture supports better focus and confidence.
Rebuilding Confidence Starts with You
Retained reflexes can hold you back from feeling confident, but you don’t have to stay stuck. By working on these simple activities at home, you can start to improve your physical and emotional well-being, one step at a time.
If you want further guidance and personalized support, the In the Cortex Brain Reorganization Program offers a structured approach to addressing retained primitive reflexes. Through neuroscience-backed exercises, this program can help you regain control over your body, your emotions, and ultimately, your confidence.
Remember, confidence isn’t built overnight—it’s a journey. Celebrate your small wins, track your progress, and trust the process. You’ll soon find yourself feeling more confident and capable in every area of your life.Here’s a good example to inspire you: Dani Perrecone’s Transformational Journey from a Survival Brain
