Effects of Bullying on the Brain
What does the brain have to do with bullying and how can he help our brains
In this newsletter, we provide you with notes on The Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health with Dr. Jennifer Fraser, an episode of Moms of Tweens and Teens.
Host Sheryl Gould is the Founder of Moms of Tweens and Teens, parenting educator, and speaker. She offers encouragement and equips moms with a deeper understanding of the unique needs of their tween or teen and how to meet them where they're at and support them to thrive.
In today’s episode, she is joined by Dr. Jennifer Fraser who is a founder of the Bullied Brain. She is an award-winning teacher of 20 years, an international presenter, and a published author.
Read our notes below.
Topics Covered in this Summary
The Effects of Bullying on the Brain
Tips to Restore Brain Health
The Effects of Bullying on the Brain
Bullying can come in many different forms. Being the subject of rumors or lies, or being persistently belittled or called names are the most typical forms of bullying. Some people may be physically bullied, such as being pushed or shoved, or having their stuff removed or destroyed.
Regardless of the type of bullying, it is something to take seriously, especially when the person being bullied is experiencing increased stress or negative feelings in response to it.
Bullying has been shown in research studies to have major cognitive and emotional impacts. It can have long-term effects on an individual’s health and well-being.
Bullied children are more likely to develop anxiety, depression, and other mental health difficulties later in life. Bullying has also been connected to self-harm and suicide.
According to research, the stress chemicals released during bullying might also have an effect on the immune system. These hormones can cause inflammation, which has been related to depression and anxiety problems, as well as physical diseases including hypertension and obesity.
When all of this is considered, chronic stress associated with persistent bullying can result in structural and functional brain changes that raise the children's chance of having both mental and physical health problems as an adult.
Tips to Restore Brain Health
At the core of a child’s trauma lies the wound caused by a traumatic event or several traumatic events. In order to cope with the trauma over time, their brain starts to form layers upon layers over the wound to protect itself.
The good news is that the brain is “plastic”—the networks and circuits in everyone’s brains have the ability to change over time in response to their environment.
If we want to support our kids to heal, we need to understand the way the brain works. We can change our brains. We can make them stronger through what we practice in our environments.
Here are some ways to restore the brain health:
Acknowledge Bullying in Your Past. The only way to begin the healing process is to recognize that the bullying occurred and that you were not responsible for it.
Prioritize Your Health and Recovery. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any symptoms you are experiencing. Remember, bullying affects more than just your mood and self-esteem. It can also impact your health.
Reclaim Control in Adulthood. Start your recovery by taking control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions. It is also important to own your reactions and realize that you can choose to make healthy choices. You have a choice on how to live your life.
Recognize Your Value and Worth. To get started, write down your positive characteristics. What are you good at? What are your strengths? What do people like about you? What do you like about yourself? Focus on the positive things you have going for you and reject the lies the bullies fed to you.
Avoid Isolating Yourself. Talk to friends and family or find a support group in your area. The key is that you do not go through the healing process alone.
Find Closure to Move Forward. The bullying you experienced does not define who you are. Instead, rediscover who you are and close the door on the past.
Be Patient With Recovery. Celebrate your progress no matter how small and give yourself time and space to heal. The changes may be small and slow but they are still changes. One day you will wake up and see a new person looking back at you in the mirror.
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