25/08/2023
More and more children are presenting with stressed nervous systems: anxiety, overwhelm, screen addiction, school refusal, separation anxiety etc. When I meet with parents and ask them to identify their own stress levels and the levels within the home on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highly stressed)the typical response is around an 8 indeed I’ve had 10s as well. Living in this constant state of high stress inevitably leads to children being impacted. Their nervous system automatically regulates itself to that of parents/ caretaker:co-regulation. The child’s nervous system is now in flight/flight/ freeze or fawn mode. This becomes the child’s default. Trying to teach children techniques or tools to regulate themselves when the parent or home stress level doesn’t change just adds more dysregulation for the child. It also creates a belief within the child that there is something wrong with them when in reality their body is showing that there is an issue in the family system. I’m suggesting that a reassessment of what/ who is driving our wants for them is required. Our culture is now so driven by fast paced experiences, the must do and must see and the inevitable fomo. Children’s brains are just not able for it all❤️
