|
Many of our children are
ultra-sensitive and can suffer from the intensity of their emotional
awareness. This can cause a problematic build-up of stress hormones in the
child’s system. Some “highly aware” children are so sensitive that they go
into an adrenaline response literally hundreds of times a day.
The “Adrenaline Dance” is
a simple technique which assists in reconditioning their stress response,
releases the chemical by-products of stress, and helps our children feel
more empowered in their magical bodies. This is a vital skill for them to
master. As they begin to understand and trust their body’s responses more,
they become less reactive to some of the environmental stimuli that
previously caused them alarm. Use language that your child can understand to
explain the following:
Our
bodies are designed to keep us safe. Many years ago, we used to live out in
the wilderness where we might need to be able to hear a tiger or bear in the
bushes and run away quickly or fight the animal off. That is why when we
hear a sudden noise or get a feeling that we are not safe, our bodies react
in such a big way. Our bodies send chemicals that make our ears
extra-sensitive to sounds, make our vision very strong, and make our biggest
muscles ready to run or fight. When you feel afraid, your body works to get
you ready for trouble. But most of the times in our lives, we soon realize
that there is no trouble. For example, some kids get frightened when they
hear a sudden noise. (Use a pertinent example for your child.) Once you
realize what the noise is and you know that you are not in danger, you need
to help your body get out of fear mode and back into balance. We call this
the “adrenaline dance” since one of the chemicals your body makes is called
adrenaline.
The “adrenaline dance” --
First you have to breathe pretty deeply, just as though you were running
away from a bear! Then move some of the large muscles in your body – try
waving your arms in the air and moving your legs or dancing around a bit.
You can make some “aaaah” or “ooooh” noises too. Then calm your body down,
put your hand over your tummy, and say “Thank you body for keeping me safe,
there is no danger here.”
|
