EDUCATION
HELP YOUR BRAIN RELAX
By practicing relaxation techniques on a regular
basis, it will be much easier for your (or your child)
to anchor this more helpful state. This will help you
access it when things get stressful and enable your
brain to reconnect more quickly:
1. Make sure you’re sitting comfortably. Take
some deep breaths in and out.
2. Scan your body for any tension you may be
holding onto. Let it all out with each exhalation.
3. Deepen your sense of wellbeing by thinking
back to a time when you felt completely safe
and relaxed.
4. Think about this time in detail. What could
you see? What sounds were you aware of?
How did you feel? Were there any special
UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN BEHAVIOUR BETTER
tastes or smells?
It’s not just young people who feel stupid when their reptilian brains take over. Have you ever tried to break
5. What happens if you make the feelings
a habit (maybe smoking, drinking, self harming, shopping or overeating)? Logically, you probably know a
stronger? The colours brighter? The sounds
louder? Experiment with the submodalities until
thousand reasons to stop. Yet sometimes, when stressed, you lose control?
your relaxing memory feels just right for you. “When the brain disconnects, you’re temporarily stupid,” says Deborah. “So when nicotine levels drop, the
6. Anchor it in some way that will help you
reptilian brain sends signals: ‘Hang on! There may be some danger here!’ This speeds up the heartbeat and
recreate this wonderful feeling any time tension
breathing. You become temporarily stupid and go out and have a cigarette because the drug is so strong.”
and anxiety bubbles.
So next time you lapse, be kind to yourself (as you’d be with a small child). Remind your reptilian brain that
7. Practice regularly to strengthen your new tool.
you’re safe and aim to keep going. What can you do differently next time you want to smoke / shop etc.?
Test it out in stressful situations and improve it
Again, by practicing relaxation techniques, you can use them to reconnect and this will minimise cravings
until it’s just right for you. for your usual fix.
rapport - Summer 2009
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