Anatomy
__ may result in changes to the neuroanatomy of the brain.
Trauma
____ is when your brain is overwhelmed by sensory input. An environment might feel like “too much” and your brain might have difficulty focusing or remembering new information.
Overstimulation, overstimulated
You are trying to focus on a task, but find yourself getting distracted. The TV is on and people are talking. What is something you could do to improve your ability to focus?
Turn off the TV or phone and work in a quiet space.
What is one grounding technique to calm emotional intensity so the brain can better take in information?
5-4-3-2-1, counting backwards from 20, naming categories
This is a memory strategy of leaving everyday items in the same place. For example: leaving your house keys by the front door, glasses by your bedside table.
Using a set place or designated space
This part of the brain is responsible for planning, adapting, and decision-making. After trauma, this area may become smaller and less active, and may create challenges with flexible thinking and executive functions.
The prefrontal cortex or frontal lobe
Eating spicy or sour snacks is a strategy that may help regulate what sense?
Taste
What’s a good habit to help remember where you placed important items like keys?
Keep them in the same designated spot each time.
What is the name of the technique using slow, controlled breathing to reduce “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
Deep breathing, or box breathing
Setting an alarm or using post-it notes for important tasks to help you remember what to do is an example of what?
Using reminders
This part of the brain processes sensory signals, becomes more active after trauma, and can make someone more sensitive to sights, sounds, and touch.
The sensory cortex
Using a weighted blanket or fidget toys are examples of strategies that may regulate what sense?
Touch, proprioception
How can you reframe a frustrating situation?
Focus on what you can control instead of what you can’t.
What is one strategy that can be used to reduce unpredictability that may interfere with learning?
Using routines
This strategy involves connecting new information to something already known, making it easier for the brain to store new memories.
Association
This part of the brain is responsible for processing fear and anger, becomes more active after trauma, and can trigger the “fight or flight” response.
The amygdala
What is one sensory strategy to manage feeling overstimulated by noise?
Headphones, earplugs, taking breaks in a quiet space
What strategy helps if you often forget important deadlines?
Use reminders, alarms, or color-coded calendars.
Using a ____ environment, with low stimulation can improve memory during tasks.
Calm
Practicing recalling information without using notes or resources strengthens learning through this technique
Active recall
This part of the brain helps encode memories, but stress hormones after trauma can make it hard to form or remember them.
The hippocampus
What is one strategy to use when bright lights are overstimulating?
Lava lamp, sunglasses, dimmed lights, dark room, brimmed hat
What’s an effective problem-solving strategy for complex situations?
Identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, choose one that seems most appropriate, use in the situation, and evaluate/reflect on the result
What is one strategy to reduce activation of the amygdala by allowing a person to step away a task and return when calm (regulated).
Regulation break, sensory break
Chunking similar tasks together, such as your morning vs evening routines to better support memory is called what?
Grouping tasks