To put it simply, when we go into fight, flight and freeze, our bodies prioritise action, speed, response and survival, and they shut down ‘longer term’ functions, such as rational thinking, immune response, seeing the bigger picture and keeping the body healthy. So if our kids are constantly in fight, flight and freeze mode, it can have long-term impacts for how they grow and develop.
Unfortunately, these days, due to increased technology, stressors and expectations on us and our kids, we all spend a lot of time with our sympathetic nervous systems activated. We are constantly connected, switched on, and conscious of perceived or actual social, emotional and psychological threats. We’re heightened.
Kids have vastly increased screen time, increased testing at school, social media and high intensity video games. This pushes them into an overly or chronic sympathetic state (sympathetic nervous systems switched on), which isn’t great for our mental or physical health. We see increases in chronic illness, lower immune systems, poor sleep, fatigue, poor performance and poor mental health.
We are constantly connected, switched on, and conscious of perceived or actual social, emotional and psychological threats. We’re heightened.
The parasympathetic nervous system “rest and digest”
If the sympathetic nervous system is all about fast reaction, our parasympathetic nervous system is the antidote – the long-term planner. The parasympathetic nervous system helps produce a state of equilibrium in the body. This is our slow-moving system that helps create balance and maintain general functions. It is this system that restores the body’s sense of calm, allowing it to relax, repair and restore. This is why it’s so important to strengthen this system in our kids, to embed resilience and coping abilities.
When this system is activated we see:
- Improved circulation and even distribution of energy amongst the brain and body systems
- Frontal lobe functions improved, such as rational thinking, creative thinking, improved attention, focus and improved empathy
- Digestion improved
- Slower, calm breathing
- Our pupils dilate – so we can literally see the “whole picture”
The parasympathetic nervous system helps produce a state of equilibrium in the body.
As you can see, this system is geared towards long-term health and wellbeing with improved immune response, better digestion and sleep, energy conversation and maintaining a healthier balance in your body.
How do we activate our parasympathetic nervous system?
While the parasympathetic nervous system is also automatic in activation, at times it needs a little more help to turn on. This is mostly due to the overactive nature of our sympathetic nervous system in the world we live in.
Every adult and child are different in regard to what activates “rest and digest” for them – for some kids this may be reading a book, playing playdough or doing craft; for others it may be going for a walk or doing some yoga – something more physical in their body.
What we do know is that for most people, engaging in calm breathing will activate our parasympathetic nervous system, via our vagus nerve. It tells our heart to slow down, conserve energy and reduces the release of cortisol (our stress hormone). This sends that vital signal to the brain that it is calm, safe and no longer under threat.
Written by Dr Lauren Moulds, Principal Psychologist at Big Little Steps Psychology for Brave and Able. Brave and Able Breathing Buddies have been developed by mother of three, Zara McDonald, in consultation with psychologists and educators, to help your children build their calm breathing skills so they can feel empowered to tackle their challenges and work through their big feelings with calm and confidence. Join their Facebook and Instagram communities to find out more.
What an awesome article. Thank you! I’ve shared it with lots of people