Page 17 - Course 3 Neurobiology Part 2 Brain Stress
P. 17
When stressors come our way,
we need good skills to manage
WHAT WE KNOW / UNDERSTAND PICTURE PROMPTS
WHEN NEEDS ARE NOT MET WELL, STRESS CHEMICALS ARE RELEASED
INTO OUR BODY. WE NEED GOOD SKILLS TO MANAGE THIS WELL
▪ When our 5C Needs are NOT met well, stress chemicals are released
into our body.
▪ These stress chemicals cause some things to be turned up: our heart
rate and breathing get stronger, so we have energy to fight or flight. It
is harder to feel and become calm.
▪ More oxygen is sent to some parts of our body so that we become
more alert; our hearing, smell and sight become more acute. This
means we may find sound and smells more overwhelming.
▪ Meanwhile, these stress chemicals inhibit some other parts of the
body to save energy (parts that use lots of energy), such as our
immune system and digestive system. We may feel sick or over-eat.
▪ It also inhibits the pre-frontal cortex of our brain, where our Executive
Function Skills are housed. This means it is harder to think clearly,
problem-solve and make rational decisions.
▪ Instead, these stress chemicals turn up our ‘safety strengths’ as a
survival strategy: we become more impulsive, rigid, emotional and
alert and quick-switching.
