It’s hard when your child’s not coping. Emotions have a powerful effect on how they feel and behave. Inside our brains, there is a small area called the amygdala which acts like an alarm system.
When we feel threatened, the amygdala activates the nervous system. Adrenalin and noradrenalin are released into the bloodstream, and our bodies go into “fight-flight-freeze” mode.
We can:
When some children feel overwhelmed by strong emotions, they can respond in lots of different ways. Some will become angry and may show physical behaviours such as hitting and biting or trying to run away. Others appear to shut down, becoming withdrawn or depressed.
There are some stresses in your child’s life that you can reduce or remove completely. For example, you can help your child plan their revision timetable if they’re feeling overwhelmed by exams. You know the stress, while intense at the time, will soon be over. You can give practical advice to help them manage everything.
But there may be other stresses in your child’s life that you are less able t
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