BrainMoves and Coping with Overwhelm
When we reach the edge of our capacity as humans, our sympathetic nervous system takes over to keep us safe. This system triggers involuntary bodily reactions and influences our emotional responses. When our stomach clenches, our mind goes blank, we freeze, or we snap and say something sarcastic—or even involuntarily apologize—we are executing one of three preprogrammed survival reactions in our bodies: freeze, fight or flight.
This freeze, fight or flight reflex is a primitive reflex, and has been with us since humanity’s caveman days. The reflex is designed to turn on for a short period of time, help us deal with the danger and “turn off” when we are again safe. In today’s society, stress is often an everyday experience and this reflex doesn’t get a chance to “turn off.”
Because these responses are preprogrammed reflexes, children’s bodies exhibit these reactions along with one additional element. Lacking coping skills to self-soothe, or in cases where individuals have more sensitive nervous systems, these reactions may quickly escalate into meltdowns. In truth, we are all hardwired to react to overstimulation and overwhelm as a protection mechanism.
In today's complex world, our minds and bodies are bombarded by economic news, severe weather reports, political drama, and endless after-hours work and school activities. While our bodies strive to self-regulate, there are times when the stimuli we experience enhance our perception of threat, and we can’t cope. A meltdown occurs and it can happen to children and their parents alike.
One of the major benefits of BrainMoves lies in the fact that many of the movements in the system help our bodies regulate by soothing our nervous systems, relaxing our muscles and tendons, restoring our vision and hearing to normal and “turning off” the freeze, fight or flight reflex.
When you take my course, you will learn 36 movements that can support both preschoolers and adults when you experience a lack of focus, anxiety, difficulty hearing, understanding, seeing, or other symptoms of overwhelm. Here’s a quick sneak peek of what you will learn.
When you or your child becomes angry and lashes out during a meltdown, this indicates that they are in "Fight" mode. For instance, when a child screams and throws cereal on the floor or breaks something, they are acting out the instinct to confront their stress head-on. It is a full body reaction and sensory and there are BrainMoves movements to calm the nervous system and restore hearing and vision back to normal. The child can then hear and see you and process “what just happened.”
When you or your child’ temperament inclines them to run away from a problem they are in “Flight” mode. The muscles and tendons in your legs and lower torso tense up, your body leans forward, chin juts out and hands clench and to prepare you to run from the perceived threat. Problems come up when the threat you want to escape is long-term or chronic, for instance, economic stress or anxiety about an upcoming test at school. When stress is chronic and it isn’t possible to run away from it, there are BrainMoves movements to restore the body to normal and manage future stresses of a similar nature without this reaction. We can also see increased hyperactivity to answer the body’s need to move.
When we “Freeze,” we avoid confronting our problems and opt to stay still, hoping they will go away. This response brings its own challenges, including muscle tension that constricts our range of motion in the limbs or neck. It can also lead to brain fog and inability to learn, listen or function. BrainMoves that focus on releasing the neck and spine are particularly helpful in this case.
Do you want to help yourself, your family, or your classroom cope with stressors in a healthier way? Would you like to reduce stress and avoid physical effects like headaches, brain fog, and body fatigue? Are you trying to help a child with ADHD or Autism adapt in a neurotypical learning environment? BrainMoves is a developmental movement program that is easy to learn, self-paced, and immediately applicable. The Basic BrainMoves course includes 5.5 hours of user-friendly videos and downloadable supportive materials like posters, flashcards, and printable coloring sheets. There are also packages that add on 4 one-on-one sessions with Diane Malik, and group Zoom Q & A and group practice sessions on Zoom, where you can practice teaching the movements and receive feedback from Diane Malik and other group members. There are also volume discounts for schools and other groups so that everyone in your organization can easily take the course.
