Every Child's Champion

Anxiety, Depression, and the Polyvagal Theory: My Story

March 04, 2022 Sara Beach
Every Child's Champion
Anxiety, Depression, and the Polyvagal Theory: My Story
Show Notes Chapter Markers

In this podcast, Sara shares her own personal history with trauma, depression, and anxiety, and introduces what she has learned about the different ways children cope with trauma. Why do some children have hairpin triggers, lashing out at their classmates, teachers, and virtually anyone else who tries to set limits on their behavior? On the other hand, why are some children “walled off,” aloof, or mostly disconnected from others, socially?

Humans are social beings, and we all need other people. When children experience scary, stressful situations in their lives, this can impact the ways they relate to others, and we see this regularly with some children who have great difficulty adapting to basic Pre-K expectations. The Polyvagal Theory provides a framework for understanding the many complex behaviors teachers are faced with on a daily basis, as well as the most helpful ways for responding to them. So in this podcast, we look at the different response patterns that are built-in to all of us, and how things like abuse, neglect, or chronically high-stress levels can set children up for some very maladaptive social behaviors. We also talk about the primary solution to helping these children adapt and learn how to interact in more socially acceptable ways.

Make sure you tune in to this podcast, share it with colleagues, as we discover the inner secrets of being Every Child’s Champion!

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A Play Therapist’s Perspective on the Impacts of Trauma on Children’s Behavior, Ep22

Depression and anxiety, fighting its social stigma
Why choose early childhood education
Let’s talk about mental health in the field of early childhood education
The effects of the pandemic
The issue of mental health for teachers
Sara’s experience with depression and anxiety
It started with the 2nd pregnancy
… and the worst possible thing happened
Severe depression—> shutdown mode
Healing the wounds and traumas of the past
Moving forward into the future of continuous help for children with traumas during the early years of their lives.
The spring research to help clinicians better treat children and individuals who have experienced traumatic life events.
The human brain: its structure, growth and organization
The fight, flight or freeze reactions
What scare and threaten young children can create lasting trauma for them
Let’s talk about Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory
Social connections and interactions matter a lot!
Freeze—-> Depression; Fight or flight——>Anxiety
Do not wall yourself off or isolate. Engage!
Looking at everything through a trauma lens
This is why children need co-regulation all the more!
Is this your child? Have you encountered them?
This may be why they act up
Even dogs have these responses! And PTSD patients too
The best part of this whole polyvagal theory thing is …
But what if he’s kicking and screaming and hitting and biting???
Here’s an example of how we can do it with these children
Teachers, get tuned into the initial cues…. BEFORE the meltdown.
Important points to remember, dear teachers!
This is for you children’s champs! Listen!
Remember, depression is just another way of our body shutting down
Here's what you can do for yourself
Find your safe person, your place of calm, or yourself
What to do when you really need to calm your body?
Find hobbies, cultivate friendships, be alive! And don’t feel guilty.