The Brain
What is the main thing the amygdala is responsible for?
Emotion
What is Resiliency?
Successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility
What was the purpose of us delivering all the information to you on Monday?
to recognize symptoms and trauma
Name one type of trauma we discussed.
(+25 for each additional one)
Community violence
Childhood trauma- ACEs
intimate partner violence
physical or emotional abuse
refugee trauma
sexual abuse
traumatic grief
PTSD
Chronic Pain
Lazy
Overwhelmed. Lacking the skills to make decisions about what to do first or to organize
When you are injured or get infected, your body signals the immune system to send white blood cells to the affected areas to repair the injury or fight the infection. When the injury heals or the infection goes away, _____________ normally goes away too. However, sometimes your immune system gets turned on and stays on after the "crisis" has passed.
If ________ sticks around, this is what leads to chronic pain.
Inflammation
Where are two places you can go to get professional counseling?
The WRM and the free clinic in Winchester
What % of people experience chronic pain?
25
What is the difference between Anxiety and Depression?
Anxiety is more fear-based while Depression is more feelings of sadness or worthlessness
Unmotivated
Depressed. Fearful. Overwhelmed. “Frozen.”
What is one thing the prefrontal cortex is responsible for?
Regulates thoughts, actions, and emotions
Self-awareness
Planning
Problem solving
Decision making
What relaxation technique did we do at the end of the last session?
Meditation
Name one good and bad food for the brain.
Fruits, vegetables, whole grains.
Processed foods: chips or soda
Name one example of emotional abuse.
(+25 for each additional example)
Gaslighting
Humiliating
Shaming
Isolating
Stonewalling
Threatening
Shifting blame
Forcing dependence
Resistant
Mistrustful of others due to history of being hurt by others. Scared to make progress and then lose everything
What is one part of the brain affected by depression?
gray matter volume (GMV), hippocampus, thalamus, frontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala
Name one tip we suggested that you can do now to minimize trauma symptoms.
(+25 for each extra tip listed)
Establishing and improving healthy routines
Engaging in meaning occupations - what makes you happy
Mental health counseling
Improving individual communication skills
Coping skills
Relaxation techniques
Mindfulness
Breathing techniques
Stress management
grounding
Writing exercises
Art therapy: draw how you feel
What is the difference between little T and big T truth?
Capital T truth is a proven fact, such as gravity. If a ball is thrown up into the air, gravity will bring it back down.
Lowercase t truth is essentially, thoughts or belief systems that are so ingrained in our brain as being true, how we experience something.
Name one symptom of PTSD.
(+25 for any additional ones you list)
Flashbacks, or feeling like the event is happening again
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Losing interest in activities
Having angry outbursts or other extreme reactions
Having physical pain like headaches or stomach aches
trouble concentrating
Irritability
Hopelessness about the future
Memory problems
Disrespectful
Feeling threatened, unsafe, out of control.
What is a symptom of an impaired amygdala?
(+25 points for any additional ones stated)
can create anxiety, panic, fear, fight or flight reactions, mood swings, and sleep difficulties
Name one way to improve your resilience.
(+25 for any additional ones mentioned)
Growth mindset
Ask for help
Focus on what you can control
Sense of humor
Take good care of yourself
Connect to your inner self
Swap limiting childhood beliefs for empowering adult ones
What happy hormone helps block cortisol?
Oxytocin!
This hormone plays a role in controlling how much cortisol is produced and released.
Explain the Stress-brain loop.
(hint: this was mentioned when we discussed Anxiety)
Changes in the brain decrease attention, perception, short-term memory, learning and word-finding
This contributes to chronic stress
Which then leads to not being able to regulate cortisol (stress hormone)
Repeat
Manipulative
Getting needs met in ways that have worked in the past. Doing whatever is necessary to survive.