Taking birth trauma seriously.
Medical hypotheses January 1, 1986 T Riedlinger, J Riedlinger 5 citations
Birth trauma theories, particularly Stanislav Grof's, have been dismissed by mainstream psychology due to lack of evidence and assumptions about neonatal brain development. However, evidence from over 3,500 psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy sessions suggests a link between unconscious birth trauma memories and mental conditions. Research on psychedelic effects, subcortical learning, and emotional response offers explanations that address Freud's objections without refuting them. This review concludes that birth trauma theories deserve more serious consideration from mainstream psychologists and medical researchers.