Snake vs Stick
In the Snake vs Stick story, what was it that scared Sam at first?
Snake.
You see smoke coming from the kitchen.
Real danger.
You're walking down the school hallways and someone grabs your backpack from behind. Flight, Fight, Freeze?
Could be flight, fight, or freeze.
Explain why you picked which one.
Situation: Billy was in the store with his mom when all the sudden he turned around and she was no longer there. Later, Billy found his mom and he was safe. Billy still has trauma trigger reminders now that remind him of what happened. What could they be?
- Shopping Carts
- Being in the store
- Not being able to see or find his mom
What are my favorite colors?
Red, blue, purple, black, green.
What is the message from the Snake vs Stick story?
Sometimes our brains think something is dangerous when it really isn't.
A teacher raises her voice in class to get the student's attention. Real or false alarm?
False alarm.
You're walking in the woods, and you see a bear up ahead. Flight, Fight, or Freeze?
Freeze!
Situation: Bobby was walking home from school one day when he got bit by a dog. Bobby is safe now, but still is reminded of what happened. What could be reminders for Bobby?
- Saw a dog bite
- Saw a dog
- Hearing dogs barking
What is my favorite game?
Fortnite.
If a child has a very fast heartbeat, stomaches, and headaches.
Is this a feeling, body clue, action, or thought?
A body clue.
Situation: At a birthday party, and you hear a loud popping sound behind you. After you turn around and look, you see that it was just a balloon?
Real or false alarm?
False alarm.
Go help them (Flight).
Situation: Benny was in the car with his parents riding home from school when all of the sudden there was a car crash right in front of them. Benny is safe now, but still gets reminders of what happened. What could be his reminders?
- Seeing a car
- Riding in the car
- Hearing / Seeing an ambulance
What is my favorite food?
Sesame Chicken.
A child has to give a presentation to his class and his brain starts thinking: "I'm going to do so badly at this."
Is this a Feeling, Body Clue, Thought, Action?
Thought.
You hear fireworks and your heart starts racing because they sound like something scary from the past?
Real or False Alarm?
False Alarm (the brain is reacting to a reminder)
Give an example of a situation where your Survival Brain would choose to Freeze.
Any example where your body would naturally want to freeze up and not know what to do.
Ex:
- During a lockdown drill, everyone is to stay completely still and quiet.
- You walk into a surprise birthday party.
Johnny gets very nervous when it storms, especially when there is loud thunder. Johnny often checks the weather app on his phone, and feels his heart start beating fast when the forecast is calling for a storm.
What traumatic event could Johnny have experienced for him to now have these fears and behaviors?
Johnny witnessed/experienced some kind of bad storm.
What is my favorite Five Nights at Freddy's character?
Foxy.
Why would your brain rather mistake a Stick for a Snake than mistake a Snake for a Stick?
Because reacting to a false alarm is safer than missing a real danger.
Explain the difference between a Real and False Alarm.
A "Real Alarm" means there is real danger.
A "False Alarm" means there is not real danger, but the alarm may have reminded you of something that is a real danger.
Give an example of a situation where your Survival Brain would choose to Flight.
Any situation where your body needs too quickly escape the situation and get away.
Ex:
- You're hiking and see a bear in the distance.
- You see a dog start to run after you.
Tyler hears someone laugh exactly the same way a person from his past used to laugh. His heart races and he suddenly wants to leave.
1. What is the trauma reminder?
2. Is Tyler in danger right now?
3. What is his brain trying to do?
1. The laugh
2. No
3. Protect him from possible danger
What is my favorite Pokemon?
Lucario.