Kids User Guide to a Human Life

a book series offering 9 to 12 year-olds fun, practical information on how to live a life with less stress and more joy

Mindful Monday :: Like, Attachment and Emotions Part II

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Emotions and thoughts such as greed and fear also change the chemistry of your body by turning on the stress response.

When the stress response is activated, your brain quickly sends signals down your spinal cord, through your nerves and to your adrenal glands telling them to release the hormone adrenaline.

When released, adrenaline increases the amount of sugar in your blood, increases your heart rate and raises your blood pressure.

Your brain’s remarkable hypothalamus simultaneously signals your pituitary gland to stimulate your adrenal cortex into producing a stress hormone called cortisol.

Cortisol keeps your blood sugar and blood pressure elevated to give you energy to escape from danger.

So here you are—your actions, thoughts and subsequent emotions over your sister’s desire to wear your outfit have now created an entire biochemical response in your body.

Stress hormones, high blood sugar and rising blood pressure now have to run their course.

Unfortunately, this is physically, mentally and emotionally uncomfortable.

And many times your Chattering Mind’s grasping creates an ongoing loop with the physical responses in your body.

They begin to feed one another, looping continuously, and can lead to anxiety, obsessive thinking or depression.

Practice :: This week, if you find yourself caught in the above loop, try one of our free guided mindfulness mediations. Find a quite place to sit and spend twenty minutes calming your breath and body and remembering your natural capacity for openness.

2 Comments

  1. LOVE all of these post Becca. I am always amazed at how applicable your book is for adults even though it’s written for younger people. I always get something out of reading your posts. Thank you for being such an amazing messenger on this planet.

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