Anxiety, Stress and Adversity Archives - islandparent

Babies Recognize Conflict

IslandParent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Duration: 2:21

Babies are More Aware Than You Realize

From the beginning of life, and even prenatally, babies and young children detect emotions. They can hear the difference in tone between a conflictive voice and a kind, nurturing voice. Ongoing conflict in the family, such as yelling and anger, are a form of adversity and stress that can affect children’s lifelong well-being as they can affect development at the level of brain circuitry and the immune system.

Even Prenatally Infants Sense Anger and Violence in the Environment

A newborn recognizes its mother’s voice as compared to the other voices it has heard from the womb. Babies are born having already learned to perceive emotions. Early adversity can create vulnerabilities to lifelong illnesses and mental disorders.

Featuring:

Dr. Thomas Boyce

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Resilience

IslandParent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Duration: 2:06

We Create the World with Our Minds

Our experience of the world as an adult is largely influenced by how supportive our childhood environment was. Resilience is the capacity to not only survive difficulties but also adapt to and grow from them. Although resilience comes across as an individual characteristic it really begins as a social factor. Developing a core belief that the world is a loving place where our needs will be met leads to a resilient attitude.

A Supportive Childhood Environment is a Key to Resilience

Although some people can deal with situations easier than others, resilience is not only an individual characteristic but a result of our social environment and upbringing as well. People who benefitted from security and support have a better sense of agency and possibility than those who were deprived and isolated.

Featuring:

Dr. Gabor Maté

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The Benefits of Self-Reflection

IslandParent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Duration: 1:40

A Time for Integration and Connection

There is nothing harder or more rewarding than parenting. It is an honor. As a human family it is important to support each other to understand the science of parenting.

Reframing Difficult Parenting Moments

Through self-reflection parents can learn to “reframe” or find meaning in the difficulties they have experienced. In this way they deepen their self-understanding and move from pain to opportunity.

Featuring:

Dr. Dan Siegel

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The Challenge for Parents with Unresolved Trauma

IslandParent — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000

Duration: 3:31

Secure Attachment is Important to Children

It is a challenge for parents with unresolved trauma to raise a baby. They see the baby as themselves and feel the child’s vulnerability. For example, it is essential for a parent who has experienced sexual abuse to get help to overcome this trauma. Parents who are able to reflect on their experiences, even negative ones, and make sense of them, can develop a secure attachment with their child.

You Can Reframe Your Experience

In life, it isn’t what happens to you that is most important, it is how you make sense of the experience. Parents’ ability to make sense of what has happened to them in their own childhood is the best predictor of their child’s ability to become securely attached.

Featuring:

Dr. Dan Siegel

The post The Challenge for Parents with Unresolved Trauma appeared first on islandparent.