Survival Brain Strategies
Explain Squishy Squeeze Strategy & Why it Helps?
- Squeezing a squishy toy
- Reduces stress
- Reduces tension
- Brings focus to present moment
- Promotes being relaxed and calm
What are the Four Major Communication Styles?
- Assertive Communication
- Passive Communication
- Aggressive Communication
- Passive-Agressive Communication
What are the Three Main Boundary Types?
- Porous
- Rigid
- Health
Name a Breathing Technique and Explain How to Do it
Examples
- Star breathing
- Figure 8 breathing
- Square / box breathing
What are the Three Main Parts of the Brain?
- Surivival Brain
- Emotional Brain
- Wise Brain
Explain Aggressive Communication with an Example of a Person / Character
Aggressive Communication is where:
Example Character could be the hulk
What are Porous Boundaries and What Does Their Gate Look Like?
Open gate / no lock
- Overshares personal information
- Struggles to say no
- Easily influenced by the opinions of others
- Feels responsible for others happiness
- Gets involved in others problems
- May accept disrespectful behaviour
- Lets anyone in
Explain what Savouring is Using an Example
i.e. smelling the flowers, drinking a cup of tea
Explain the Survival Brain & Where it's Located?
- Located at the back of the head near the spinal cord.
- Heart rate
- Breathing
- Sleep
- Hunger
- Body Temperature
- Survival reflexes (eg. pulling your hand away if you touch something burning hot)
- Movement
- Keeping safe if there's danger
Explain Passive Communication with an Example of a Person / Character
Passive Communication is:
Example Character could be Piglet
What are Rigid Boundaries and What Does Their Gate Look Like?
- Can't enter
- Keeps everyone out
- Doesn't ask for help
- Protective of information
- May seem detached
- Avoids close relationships
- Avoids possibility of rejection
What is the 5 Senses Grounding Technique and How Does it Work?
- Gets you in touch with your senses
- 5 things you can see
- 4 things you can touch
- 3 things you can hear
- 2 things you can smell
- 1 thing you can taste
Explain the Emotional Brain & Where it's Located?
- Located in the middle of the brain (Top of the head)
- Emotions & feelings
- Remembering things
- Keeping safe if there’s danger
Explain Passive-Aggressive Communication with an Example of a Person / Character
Passive-aggressive communication is...
Example character could be Iron Man / Tony Stark
What are Healthy Boundaries and What Does Their Gate Look Like?
A gate with a lock that can open and close freely
- Says no without guilt
- Values own opinions
- Appropriately shares personal information
- Can communicate wants and needs
- Doesn't compromise values
- Accepts decisions of others
- Chooses who to let in and who to keep out
What are Your 5 Main Goals?
1. Fixing car so it can be driven
2. Pay Phoebe back money owed
3. Get hours up on learner license
4. Journal every second day on iPad
5. Exercise 2x a week
Explain the Wise Brain & Where it's Located?
- Located at the very front of the brain (Near the Forehead)
- Talking, reading & writing
- Making smart choices & solving problems
- Imagination & creativity
- Thinking clearly
- Managing tricky emotions
Explain Assertive Communication with an Example of a Person / Character
Assertive Communication is...
Example person could be Barack Obama
Someone invites you to a party but you don't want to go. What Would You Do if You Had Porous / Rigid / Healthy Boundaries?
Porous: Go to the party anyway even though you don't want to
Rigid: Shout in the persons face that going to a party would be a stupid idea
Healthy: Politely tell the person that parties aren't your thing and that you look forward to hanging out with them another time.
Explain the Fight / Flight / Freeze response
When the body is stressed / thinks there is danger - survival brain kicks in. This causes us to either:
- Fight: adrenaline rushes in and we are ready to fight something
- Flight: adrenaline rushes in and we are ready to run away from the danger
- Freeze: the body feels trapped / shuts down so we can freeze and hope the danger doesn't notice us