Studies have found that when one’s ability to make facial expressions have been hindered through Botox, there is also a decrease in how people experience emotions. People may lose the ability to feel very happy or to feel very sad – https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/18/well/mind/can-botox-and-cosmetic-surgery-chill-our-relationships-with-others.html
“Experts say mirroring another person’s facial expressions is essential not only for recognizing emotion, but also for feeling it.”
“Let’s say you’re walking down the street and coming toward you is someone pushing a baby in a stroller. The baby looks right at you and bursts into a big, gummy grin. What do you do?”
“If you’re like most people, you reflexively smile back and your insides just melt. The baby might react by smiling even more broadly and maybe kicking its feet with delight, which will only deepen your smile and add to the warm feeling spreading in your chest.”
“But what if you couldn’t smile naturally, with the usual crinkles around your eyes and creases in your cheeks? There’s convincing scientific evidence that the same kind of mutual engagement and interplay — with infants, or anyone else — would be difficult to achieve. Experts say mirroring another person’s facial expressions is essential for not only recognizing emotion, but also feeling it.”
“That’s why anything that disrupts one’s ability to emote is cause for concern, particularly in an age when Botox and other cosmetic procedures that paralyze, stretch, plump or otherwise alter the face are commonplace. Permanently pouty lips and smooth brows might be good for selfies, but research suggests they flatten your affect, disconnecting you from your feelings and the feelings of others.”
Therapy with Elaine Korngold
I am a Certified Brainspotting Therapist and would be happy to talk to you about Brainspotting. Brainspotting therapy accesses the genius of our deeper emotional brain and heal our emotional state from being triggered by past trauma. Brainspotting opens up a fuller range of considerations for Botox or other medical procedures, when corresponding emotions are noticed and honored.
With your focused vision and my attuned presence and verbal guidance, emotional Brainspots can be released in a gentle and non-invasive way. There is no need to be in chronic emotional pain. Please text or email me for a free consultation.