08/23/2022
The body is so amazing. It fights so hard to protect us. Our system is wired to respond physiologically below the surface.
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How to recognise the FLIGHT response in ourselves and our children?
When our brain or body perceives a danger or a threat, our nervous system mobilises our body into a survival response.
It can be the fight, the flight, the fawn or the freeze response.
The FLIGHT response is the one that allows us to run away, escape or hide from the threat.
The mobilisation happens in our body:
👉 Our heartbeat accelerates, pumping blood to our legs and arms so that we can run efficiently.
Our breathing accelerates too.
👉 Our vision narrows and our eyes move fast to find an escape or a place to hide.
👉 Our thoughts come up as "feeling trapped", being scared, worried or feeling anxious.
When in survival, our rational brain "disconnects", so it's nearly impossible to focus, reason or learn in this state.
👣 In ourselves, we can recognise the flight response by noticing what happens in our body: we feel fidgety, it's difficult to slow down and focus, and our thoughts go in loops, over-analysing things.
👣 In our children, we can recognise the flight response by observing their behaviour: their eyes are scanning the environment, they're fidgety, agitated or hyperactive, they can't stay in one spot, they can't focus, or they're worried or anxious.
(Children whose nervous systems are in a flight response are often labelled as ADHD).
Neither ourselves nor our children choose to be in this state.
It's an AUTOMATIC response to a perceived threat.
I invite you to observe and notice this survival response in yourself and your children.
Bringing awareness and compassion is a first important step. ♥️
With Love,
Manon
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