Teaching Affect Regulation & Awareness in Preschool Age

Children

By: Aaron Wiemeier M.S. LPC

October 4, 2013

What is Affect Regulation?

Definition: The ability to manage ones emotional state in a functional way to meet primary need fullfillment

Needs Met Reduce Stress Survival Conserve Energy Survival

Spectrum of Affect Regulation

Depressed Manic

Restful / Activated

Cycle of Affect Regulation

Normal Adult

Bipolar Adult/Child

Infant Child

(note – frequency can be greater)

Affect Regulation continued

• Starting Point For Ego Development (I am Ok, I can handle this, I can get my needs met)

• Primarily Learned from Attachment Figure• Initial goal for child is to: “stretch” out the cycle not

eliminate the downs (frequency & duration)

Regulatory Systems of a Human Being

Autonomic Nervous

System

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Regulatory Systems of a Human Being

Sympathetic Parasympathetic

Excitatory

Adrenaline (Cathecholomine System)

Fight, Fly or Freeze Response

Inhibitory

Noradrenaline/Cortosol

Calm Down, Relax, Rejuvinate

Regulatory Systems of a Human BeingSympathetic Structure Parasympathetic

Rate increased Heart Rate decreased

Force increased Heart Force decreased

Bronchial muscle relaxed LungsBronchial muscle contracted

Pupil dilation Eye Pupil constriction

Motility reduced Intestine Digestion increased

Sphincter closedBladder/Rectum

Sphincter relaxed

Decreased urine secretion KidneysIncreased urine secretion

Development, Regulation & Feelings: Connecting The Dots

• Regulatory Systems biochemically develop b/w 6 months in-utero 16 weeks• Birth to 1 month Sensory capacities, distinctions in vision, hearing, taste,

touch, temperature, perception of pain• 2-3 months color perception, smiles at a face• 7-9 months separation anxiety/attachment formed/forming• 10-12 months anger, affection, fear of strangers• 1.5-3 years temper tantrums, resentment of new baby, 200 word vocabulary,

differentiation of facial expressions of anger, sorrow, joy• 3-5 years affectionate towards parents, pleasure in genital manipulation,

romantic attachment to opposite sex parent, jealousy of same sex parent, fear of dark, fear of injury, pride in accomplishments

(www.childdevelopmentinfo.com)

Healthy Regulatory Cycle (positive & negative stressors)

Unhealthy Regulatory Process/Cycle

Behavior consistent with less ability to manage emotions reinforcement of negative messages both from community & culture

The “Big 3” – Steps to create change and improve Emotional Regulation

Nonverbal Behavior In Human BeingsWhy is it so important?

75% of communication

Trauma memory non-declarative (verbal) memory

It is more reliable

NV awareness in self & others leads to better modeling

Mechanisms of Non-Verbal Behavior

• Eye Contact• Facial Expression• Voice Tone• Posture• Gestures• Timing• Intensity of Response

Nonverbal Behavior

www.myfeelingsworkbook.com

Emotional (Body-Focused) Awareness

• Preventative & Resiliency Building• Because you feel feelings IN your body!• Normalization of Emotions• Separation of Emotion from Emotional Behavior• Research of Emotional Intelligence

“Simply stated, emotional intelligence is the ability to " monitor one’s own and others’ feelings, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.’’ (Salovey & Mayer 1990, p. 189)

“Research suggests that people who have a high EQ or are higher in measured scales of emotional intelligence, have greater work success and more fulfilling personal relationships with others. It stands to reason that if a child develops this ability more thoroughly early in life, it can translate to these same benefits at a greater capacity later in life.” (Salovey & Grewel, 2005)

Emotional Awareness Building Resources

• My Feelings Workbook – www.myfeelingsworkbook.com

Body Focused – in depth about emotions• Challenge Software - www.cpschallenge.com• Zones of Regulation – www.zonesofregulation.com

• Managing Your Anger – What’s Behind it?

Feelings Behind Anger

www.creativetherapystore.com

If you knew a severe winter storm was coming…would you equip your children with the warmest clothes to protect them?

The Storm:• September 17, 2013 – 800 million people bought GTA in the first day• June 26, 2013 – Road Rage study shows 170% increase in 5 years• Social Media Revolution: Access to everything, everywhere, everytime PLUS our brains are

neurodevelopmentally wired to notice and attend to negative sensationalized stimuli first• DSM 5 – Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder• Autism Spectrum Disorder Rate Increase 1:88 (prevalence rates incresaing 10-17% each

Criteria A1: Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity

A2: Deficits in nonverbal communication

A3: Deficits in developing maintaining and understanding relationships