Mindfulness

The fight, flight or freeze response is one of the tools that is used by your body to protect you from danger.   When you experience danger or are threatened, the fight, flight or freeze response is automatically triggered.   Different physiological changes then prepare you to either fight or flight from the threat or even freeze. 

Is the fight or flight response bad?

All of us experience the fight, flight or freeze response in one way or another and to varying degrees. It usually occurs in a natural and healthy manner. However, when the fight or flight response leads to excessive anger, anxiety, prolonged stress or other problems, it might be time to intervene. 

How can I manage the fight or flight response?

In addition to the fight, flight or freeze response, our bodies can also initiate an opposite relaxation response. Many symptoms of the relaxation response counteract the fight or flight, such as slower and deeper breathing, relaxed muscles and a slower heart rate. The relaxation response can be triggered using relaxation skills such as mindfulness. 

What is Mindfulness?

  • Being focused on the present moment 
  • Awareness of your own thoughts, feelings and senses 
  • State of non-judgemental awareness of what is happening in the present moment (important not to judge or change the feelings that you are experiencing)
  • It is more a state of mind than a particular action or exercise 
When mindfulness is being taught to children, they are equipped to:
  •  Build self-esteem
  •   Approach challenges in a skillful manner 
  •  Increase their well-being 
  •  Meet the stresses of the world with their presence, self-compassion and openness 

When mindfulness is taught to children from a young age, they will be able to cultivate resilience and develop their mindfulness practice as they get older. 

Benefits

  • Increased focus, attention, self-control, classroom participation and compassion
  • Improved academic performance, ability to resolve conflict and improved overall well-being.
  • Decreased levels of stress, depression, anxiety and  disruptive behaviour.
  • Improved ability to adapt to stressful situations 

We print out these Grounding Technique posters and place them in classrooms.  You are welcome to use them too.