The Dangers of Survival Mode (pt 2)

In my previous post, I introduced how stress and fear impacts the brain and body. Sometimes the body's recovery from trauma is truncated, and symptoms of post traumatic stress can result. When these symptoms persist beyond one month after the incident, an individual is considered to meet diagnostic criteria for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). [...]

The Dangers of Survival Mode (pt 1)

Have you ever wondered what goes on in the brain when safety is threatened? It’s important for people (kids and adults alike) to have a basic understanding of brain anatomy and function. I typically explain it to children using Dan Siegel’s hand model of the brain. It’s pretty simple, so long as you can make [...]

Finding Courage through Fear and Vulnerability

Many ancient cultures believed that to know a thing’s true name was to wield great power over that thing. For example, in Rick Riordan’s The Red Pyramid, siblings Sadie and Carter must learn the secret name of the ominous Set, in order to defeat the tyrant and save the world from destruction. While the book [...]