brain on trauma
TRANSCRIPT
11/8/16
1
Your Brain on
Trauma Presented by:
Jane Robinson, LMHC, RPT-S, Founder Clarissa DeWitt, LMHC, RPT, Clinical Director
• ToxicstressisaMEDIATORbetweenearlychildhoodadversityandlessthanop<maloutcomesinlearning,behaviorandhealththatspanalife<me
• UnderstandingtheunderlyingBIOLOGYsupportsthestrongneedforpreven&onandearlyinterven&oninpolicy
TheBIGWHY!!!!
ToxicStressandTrauma
It’snotthetraumaticeventitself,buthowthestress
responsesystemreactsthatdeterminestheimpact.
Impact is greater and longer lasting with young children because of their developing state
• Collabora<onbetweentheCentersforDiseaseControlandPreven<onandKaiserPermanente
• Dr.RobertAnda(CDC)andDr.VincentFeliO(KaiserPermanente)
• Ini<alphase1995-1997• Spawnedover70scien<ficar<cles
• Replicatedinover32states
AdverseChildhoodExperienceStudy
ACESs&BrainDevelopmentOverallPicture
Cri<cal&Sensi<ve
DevelopmentalPeriod
Gene&csExperiencestriggergeneexpression
BrainDevelopmentElectrical,Chemical,
CellularMass
AdverseChildhoodExperiencesMorecategoriesgreaterimpact
Adap<onHardwiredinto
biology
Contributestochallengesacrossthelifespan
©Center for Child Counseling, Inc
DevelopmentisaDanceBetweenNurtureandNature
Experiences
BehaviorandDevelopment
Epigene<cChanges
BrainDevelopment
Protective vs Insecure
Adaptive vs Maladaptive Coping Skills
Which genes are turned on/off, when, and where
Alterations in structure and function
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First1000DaysAreCrucial
• Bornwith100billionneurons-Con<nuousprocessofformingnewconnec<on/pruning
• Eightypercentofbraingrowthoccursinfirst3years
• Braindevelopsinthecontextofit’senvironment
Relationships are the active ingredient that sets the foundation
• Babies are not born with the ability to regulate emotions.
• Regulatory system develops when the baby’s signals are understood and responded to by the caregiver – serve and return*.
Development is Relationship Dependent
ExperiencesBuildBrains TheFoundation:BrainArchitecture
Genesandexperienceworktogethertoconstructbrainarchitecture.
Inthe;irstfewyearsoflife,700to1,000newneuralconnectionsformeverysecond.
StressImpactsBrainDevelopment BrainDevelopmentHierarchical
AbstractThoughtProblemSolving
Affilia<on/Socializa<on“Aaachment”
MemoryEmo<onalReac<vity
MotorControl“Arousal”
Appe<te/Sa<etySleep-WakeCycleBloodPressure
HeartRate/BreathingBodyTemperature
Cortical
Limbic
Midbrain
Brainstem
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StressDerailsDeveopment
EarlyChildhoodStress
ChronicFightorFlightresponse
ChangeinBrainArchitecture
Hyper-responsive
stressresponse
Neural connections are weaker and fewer
Impedes adaptive coping mechanisms and ability to calm
Increase in cortisol and norepinephrine
ToxicStressandtheDevelopingBrain
SurvivalTrumpsLearning
Executive Center – Handles logic, empathy, compassion, creativity, self-regulation and self awareness, sequential thought, planning, problem-solving and attention
Emotional Center – Processes memory, emotions, response to stress, nurturing, caring, separation anxiety, fear, rage, social bonding and hormone control
Survival Center – Regulates autonomic functions, breathing, digestion, heart rate, sleep, hunger, instinctual behaviors, functions that sustain life including flight flight freeze response
DisruptedNeurodevelopment
DynamicBrainChangesDuringStress
©Center for Child Counseling, Inc
Chronic/ToxicStress
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Academics Maltreatment MentalHealth Addic<ons Disease Crime
RootofaMultitudeofSocietalProblems
Early Adverse Experiences
• Thegoodnewsistheplas<cityofthebrain,andthebodywantstoheal.
• Thebrainiscon<nuallychanginginresponsetotheenvironment.
• Ifthetoxicstressstopsandisreplacedbyprac<cesthatbuildresilience,thebraincanslowlyundomanyofthestress-inducedchanges.
WhatCanWeDo?
• TraumaInformedCommuni<es
• Fosternurturingandresponsiverela<onships
• Assessableevidencebasedtraumaassessmentandinterven<onstosupport
HealthyRelationshipsBuffertheImpact ACEsAwareandTraumaInformed
SHIFT IN THINKING FROM “What’s wrong with you?”
“It’s easier to build strong children than repair broken men” ~ Fredrick Douglas
TO “What happened to you?”
OurChallenge
Translatewhatweknowin
neuroscienceandtheimpactof
ACEs..
..intoeffec<vepoliciesandprac<cesforfamiliesw/childrento
..improveeduca<on,healthandlifelong
produc<vity
Childrenandfamiliesthat
haveexperienced
trauma
TraumaInformedSchools
TraumaInformedJus<ceSystems
TraumaInformedCommuni<es
TraumaInformedMedicine
TraumaLensAcrossOurCommunity
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THANKYOU!
TolearnaboutCenterforChildCounseling’sACEsworkinPalmBeachCounty,visit:www.centerforchildcounseling.org/figh<ngacesWatchPalmBeachCountyleadersdiscussingtheimportanceofthisissue:hap://bit.ly/PBCACEJoinintheconversa<onat:www.facebook.com/centerforchildcounselingGetOnlineTraininginPlayTherapyandACEswithWeLearnPlay:hap://www.centerforchildcounseling.org/welearnplay/Formoreinforma<on,email:[email protected]