One of my favorite parts about writing Reconnecting Workspaces was including the Brain Tips, which are grounded in some of the evolutionary research coming from the field of neuroscience.
These past few weeks we’ve been exploring the topic of conflict, and so I thought it would be appropriate to explore Chapter 14’s Brain Tip on the Amygdala Hijack. I’m curious, when did you last experience an amygdala hijack? Here’s what I wrote in Reconnecting Workspaces,
“There is a whole brain science behind conflict, and to take us into this arena, let’s look at the concept of the Amygdala Hijack. When we get angry or triggered (as we might in a conflict situation), we experience emotional flooding. This cocktail of neurotransmitters floods our bodies, literally sending our higher brain processes “offline for a short while.” Our Amygdala kicks in, encouraging us to fight, flee, or freeze.
Even educators have explored what is possible to support children who get triggered. Here are the results of an interesting project which has incorporated puppets to help children understand what happens when they get triggered.
Puppets are used to help children understand that the “prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for thinking and executive function—goes offline when kids get angry and their amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for responding to threats and danger—takes over and begins making decisions for them.”
Understanding this helps us do better with self-regulation and getting our emotions in check. Rather than trying to “push through,” it can help people understand what they may need in order to regain their center, which may mean going for a walk or engaging in some mindfulness practices. “
End of Excerpt from Reconnecting Workspaces. Pick up a copy of the book at Amazon.
Enjoy the reflection!
Jennifer
These past few weeks we’ve been exploring the topic of conflict, and so I thought it would be appropriate to explore Chapter 14’s Brain Tip on the Amygdala Hijack. I’m curious, when did you last experience an amygdala hijack? Here’s what I wrote in Reconnecting Workspaces,
“There is a whole brain science behind conflict, and to take us into this arena, let’s look at the concept of the Amygdala Hijack. When we get angry or triggered (as we might in a conflict situation), we experience emotional flooding. This cocktail of neurotransmitters floods our bodies, literally sending our higher brain processes “offline for a short while.” Our Amygdala kicks in, encouraging us to fight, flee, or freeze.
Even educators have explored what is possible to support children who get triggered. Here are the results of an interesting project which has incorporated puppets to help children understand what happens when they get triggered.
Puppets are used to help children understand that the “prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for thinking and executive function—goes offline when kids get angry and their amygdala—the part of the brain responsible for responding to threats and danger—takes over and begins making decisions for them.”
Understanding this helps us do better with self-regulation and getting our emotions in check. Rather than trying to “push through,” it can help people understand what they may need in order to regain their center, which may mean going for a walk or engaging in some mindfulness practices. “
End of Excerpt from Reconnecting Workspaces. Pick up a copy of the book at Amazon.
Enjoy the reflection!
Jennifer
Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326
Check out my TEDx talk
Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326
Check out my TEDx talk
Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.
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