So, to cut a long story short, the last call for boarding was announced. My mum scooped my sister up off the floor and reasoned that it was our last chance to get home. This completely flipped my sister’s lid and she bit my Mum’s wrist…
“That’s why.” replied the little girl’s mum.
Safe to say that my mum’s reasoning didn’t have the desired effect but the Polyvagal theory can help us to think about why this might be.
Most of the time, we feel relaxed and able to feel socially connected to the world and those around us. We also feel safe from danger. Although, if our brain does sense danger we can have one of two responses. We may ‘shut down’ if we feel extreme stress and disconnect from the world. This puts us in a low arousal state with feelings of lethargy and sadness until the danger has passed. Or we may have the the high arousal fight or flight response. We might feel a rush of energy with anxious or aggressive feelings and physical sensations such as a fast heartbeat and or quick breathing.
Meltdowns can be thought of as our body experiencing this fight or flight mode, after sensing danger in our environment.
So how do we move back up the ladder to a more relaxed and safe state of mind?
Danger cues send subconscious messages to our brain about which state is best for our survival, so they move us down the ladder- sounding the alarm and telling our body to prepare for danger.
Safety cues however move us back up the ladder. They stop the alarm ringing and tell us it’s safe to relax.
Often, these cues and our physical and emotional reactions are outside of our conscious awareness or control.
Here are some examples of danger cues:
- Mean words said by a peer
- A sudden and startling noise
- Being in a crowded room
And here are some examples of safety cues:
- A fluffy blanket that feels nice on the skin
- A favourite smell like a mum’s perfume
- A cuddle with some validating words and tone of voice
Everybody’s safety and danger cues will be unique. But, they will likely be very sensory because the alarm (amygdala, we mentioned in our last post) is very primitive and doesn’t respond well to high-level reasoning.
How do I work out what my child’s safety and danger cues are?
- If a meltdown keeps occurring in a particular place, take an inventory of characteristics or objects in that place. What does your child think or feel about each? Older children might be able to notice body sensations or a ‘gut reaction’. For younger children you need to notice their reaction.
- Note any things that soothe your child. Focus on the senses, especially smells. Carry these things with you, perhaps it roll on lavender oil or a patch of a fluffy blanket.
- Use breathing exercises to regulate physical symptoms. Imagine blowing up a balloon on the inhale and letting it deflate slowly on the exhale.
- Have a key phrase to repeat to yourself or a smell for you – you are a cue for your child, your child will follow your lead.
- Remember that you know your child best. Keep notes on what works and what doesn’t- become experimental and remember that you’ve got this!
As always,
Take care
Pocket Family Psychologist
Written by Ellie Harper.
