Page 82 - Meeting with Children Book

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interrupt the release of cortisol from the adrenal
glands. When a child experiences high levels of
ongoing stress leading to distress, cortisol,
epinephrine and norepinephrine (stress hormones)
are pumped into child’s the system. When a high level
of cortisol is present, there is an increase in
moodiness, a feeling of being overwhelmed, an
increase in a sense of fear and dread as well as a
number of physical issues such triggering a faster
heartbeat, and behavioral aggressiveness, avoidance
or withdrawal.

When considering children, development and family
re-organization due to separation and divorce, or
other types of parent/child separations due to conflict
and abuse, there is no way to avoid talking about the
emotional quality of parent/child relationships. An
interdisciplinary view of the concept of attachment is
important as psychology, brain science, anthropology,
sociology, family law etc. all converge. For our
purpose, brain science for instance, looks at the
formation of mental processes created by neurons
firing in the brain. Experience shapes the mind and
brain through altering neural connections throughout
the lifespan. Brain development is impacted by
inconsistent, chaotic, insensitive, and/or punitive
relationships. It is also impacted by a caregiver
regularly “over” or “under” responding to an infant or
child. In this instance, there is a mismatch between
the caregiver behavior and the actual need of the
child. Experience begins with the patterned type of
care that adults provide to infants and children. Siegel
and Hartzel (2003) note: