Anxiety, Depression, and the Polyvagal Theory: My Story

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!

(Refer to the Chapter Markers tab for time-stamped highlights)

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Have you missed the last episode?
Take a listen here →A Play Therapist’s Perspective on the Impacts of Trauma on Children’s Behavior, Ep22

Chapters

• 0:59 Depression and anxiety, fighting its social stigma
• 2:05 Why choose early childhood education
• 2:29 Let’s talk about mental health in the field of early childhood education
• 3:57 The effects of the pandemic
• 5:47 The issue of mental health for teachers
• 6:32 Sara’s experience with depression and anxiety
• 7:10 It started with the 2nd pregnancy
• 8:20 … and the worst possible thing happened
• 8:47 Severe depression—> shutdown mode
• 10:13 Healing the wounds and traumas of the past
• 12:08 Moving forward into the future of continuous help for children with traumas during the early years of their lives.
• 13:06 The spring research to help clinicians better treat children and individuals who have experienced traumatic life events.
• 13:41 The human brain: its structure, growth and organization
• 15:00 The fight, flight or freeze reactions
• 16:01 What scare and threaten young children can create lasting trauma for them
• 17:00 Let’s talk about Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory
• 18:00 Social connections and interactions matter a lot!
• 18:37 Freeze—-> Depression; Fight or flight——>Anxiety
• 19:06 Do not wall yourself off or isolate. Engage!
• 19:38 Looking at everything through a trauma lens
• 21:15 This is why children need co-regulation all the more!
• 24:17 More info about emotional regulation? Check out podcast number 17
• 24:25 Is this your child? Have you encountered them?
• 25:24 This may be why they act up
• 26:53 Even dogs have these responses! And PTSD patients too
• 28:02 The best part of this whole polyvagal theory thing is …
• 29:16 But what if he’s kicking and screaming and hitting and biting???
• 30:29 Here’s an example of how we can do it with these children
• 36:07 Teachers, get tuned into the initial cues…. BEFORE the meltdown.
• 37:53 Important points to remember, dear teachers!
• 38:36 This is for you children’s champs! Listen!
• 40:55 Remember, depression is just another way of our body shutting down
• 41:35 Here's what you can do for yourself
• 43:24 Find your safe person, your place of calm, or yourself
• 45:06 What to do when you really need to calm your body?
• 46:24 Find hobbies, cultivate friendships, be alive! And don’t feel guilty.