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| The power of the child within | The power of the child within |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine | By Denise Winterman BBC News Magazine |
| Under pressure or on our own, we often hear songs or poems we've learnt by heart as a child. Remembering helps us cope in extreme and dangerous situations, but why? | Under pressure or on our own, we often hear songs or poems we've learnt by heart as a child. Remembering helps us cope in extreme and dangerous situations, but why? |
| "It was all in my head - my father would play the piano and I would have a mental party in the hole in the ground." | "It was all in my head - my father would play the piano and I would have a mental party in the hole in the ground." |
| Peter Shaw's grandson was born while he was held hostage | Peter Shaw's grandson was born while he was held hostage |
| That hole was where Peter Shaw was held captive for five months in 2002, after being kidnapped while working in Georgia for the European Commission. The businessman from South Wales was chained around the neck and kept in the dark almost constantly. | That hole was where Peter Shaw was held captive for five months in 2002, after being kidnapped while working in Georgia for the European Commission. The businessman from South Wales was chained around the neck and kept in the dark almost constantly. |
| It's hard to imagine how people survive in such extreme conditions, but those who've been through such stressful situations say reciting a childhood song or poem helps. | It's hard to imagine how people survive in such extreme conditions, but those who've been through such stressful situations say reciting a childhood song or poem helps. |
| Mr Shaw used memories of his father playing the piano at family parties to get him through his ordeal, which ended after he was rescued by Georgian soldiers. | Mr Shaw used memories of his father playing the piano at family parties to get him through his ordeal, which ended after he was rescued by Georgian soldiers. |
| Personal lullaby | Personal lullaby |
| "There wasn't a day that went by during my incarceration in the hole that music was not there," he says. | "There wasn't a day that went by during my incarceration in the hole that music was not there," he says. |
| "My father was a very good piano player and I could hear him playing certain tunes in my mind. It was all in my head, I would hum along and say the words... just to stop the feeling of isolation overwhelming me." | "My father was a very good piano player and I could hear him playing certain tunes in my mind. It was all in my head, I would hum along and say the words... just to stop the feeling of isolation overwhelming me." |
| FIND OUT MORE... What's In Your Head is on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 17 April at 1100 BSTOr download the free podcast | FIND OUT MORE... What's In Your Head is on BBC Radio 4 on Friday 17 April at 1100 BSTOr download the free podcast |
| Experts say there are several reasons why songs and poems learnt in childhood can help people in such extreme situations. | Experts say there are several reasons why songs and poems learnt in childhood can help people in such extreme situations. |
| "The brain is like a filing system," says psychologist Dr James Thompson. | "The brain is like a filing system," says psychologist Dr James Thompson. |
| "Our first entries get prize position as the filing cabinet is rather empty because we are so young. As a result these memories are remembered above others." | "Our first entries get prize position as the filing cabinet is rather empty because we are so young. As a result these memories are remembered above others." |
| The content of childhood songs and sayings are also often intended to reassure and comfort. That is why we remember them when times are hard. "They are incantations," he says. | The content of childhood songs and sayings are also often intended to reassure and comfort. That is why we remember them when times are hard. "They are incantations," he says. |
| Survival | Survival |
| When Heidi's son was born prematurely at 23 weeks, weighing just 1lb 6oz (0.45kg), she couldn't see how he could survive. | When Heidi's son was born prematurely at 23 weeks, weighing just 1lb 6oz (0.45kg), she couldn't see how he could survive. |
| "I had never been so scared in my life," says the teacher and mother of three from Devon. | "I had never been so scared in my life," says the teacher and mother of three from Devon. |
| A long-forgotten hymn from her childhood kept repeating in her head as she sat by her son's incubator. She remembered her mother playing One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus on the record player every Sunday while cooking the roast. | A long-forgotten hymn from her childhood kept repeating in her head as she sat by her son's incubator. She remembered her mother playing One Day At A Time Sweet Jesus on the record player every Sunday while cooking the roast. |
| "Singing the words to the chorus over and over again gave me peace," she says. | "Singing the words to the chorus over and over again gave me peace," she says. |
| Heidi still sings the hymn to Theo | Heidi still sings the hymn to Theo |
| "It was my own lullaby, I suppose, in my head. That was very comforting thing for me." | "It was my own lullaby, I suppose, in my head. That was very comforting thing for me." |
| Her son survived and after four months in intensive care was allowed home. | Her son survived and after four months in intensive care was allowed home. |
| "I still sing the song but now it's not about getting me through one day at a time, it's in celebration - I belt it out," she says. | "I still sing the song but now it's not about getting me through one day at a time, it's in celebration - I belt it out," she says. |
| Often the stories the songs tell can also be helpful, says Dr Stephen Joseph, of Warwick University. | Often the stories the songs tell can also be helpful, says Dr Stephen Joseph, of Warwick University. |
| "They can be metaphor for hope and have a positive value. Also, the repetitive rhythm of a nice piece of music can be soothing and comforting. Children's song in particular can have this type of rhythm." | "They can be metaphor for hope and have a positive value. Also, the repetitive rhythm of a nice piece of music can be soothing and comforting. Children's song in particular can have this type of rhythm." |
| For Ghias Aljundi, a political prisoner of conscience who was tortured and held in Syrian cell for four years without charge, the power of a childhood poem he learnt cannot be underestimated. Called My Mother, he recited it during his imprisonment. | For Ghias Aljundi, a political prisoner of conscience who was tortured and held in Syrian cell for four years without charge, the power of a childhood poem he learnt cannot be underestimated. Called My Mother, he recited it during his imprisonment. |
| "The poem became like a prayer, it was my reality," he says. "I could feel it, like something you feel inside you, like when you feel loved. It was my survival." | "The poem became like a prayer, it was my reality," he says. "I could feel it, like something you feel inside you, like when you feel loved. It was my survival." |
| Add your comments on this story, using the form below. | Add your comments on this story, using the form below. |
| This might help clarify the difficulty those who had abusive childhoods have adapting to even the normal stresses of life. Gloria Kohut, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA | |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |