Download - Understanding teenagers 4 teenagers
YOUR BRAIN IN YOUR HANDS
What will you do with it?
www.nicolamorgan.com
For schools and teachers
Today, I want to share with you:
USEFUL THINGS• Something about how our brains learn• How teenage brain changes affect you• What stress is – and why it’s good• What bad stress is – and how to deal with it
How you can get more information:
• My books– About your teenage brain: – About teenage stress:
• My website: www.nicolamorgan.com– And my blog– Ask me a question
• Your handouts today• My presentation is online – see my blog today
Warning…
I’m going to change your brain
“She does not seem to have a great deal of apptitude for science subjects.”
“She does not seem to have a great deal of apptitude for science subjects.”
Would you like to see a brain?
How we do things: pathways between 100 billion neurons
Unused neurons
More developed neurons
How do we grow those connections?
• Trying and practising• Watching someone else• Sleeping– Sleeping brain focuses on things we struggled with
• (Also: breaks + F2F socialising + exercising)
What can makes life different for teenagers?
• Internal: things in your brain and body
• External: things going on around you
Biological differences in:
• Sleep – need more; sleepy later• Emotions – stronger; harder to control• Risk-taking – extra need for excitement• Social pressure – VERY important• Self-consciousness – overwhelming
PREFRONTALCORTEX(thinking +
control)
AMYGDALA(emotion + instinct)
© Alexilus - Fotolia.com
STRESS
Chemicals
Adrenalin and cortisol• Heart beats faster and we breathe faster• Blood + oxygen +energy rush to brain and
muscles
• => SUPER-PERFORMANCE
Good stress / bad stress
• Stress is good when it helps us perform well
• But bad if it is too strong (panic) or goes on too long without breaks– affects sleep, mood,health, mental health,performance
Common causes of stress for you
• Exams and schoolwork• Friendship problems• Problems and worries at home• Teenage brain changes• Emotions – fear, anger, sadness• “Intrusive thoughts”
Intrusive thoughts: negative pathways…
ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES
1. Instant: – Breathing/relaxation skill (see my website)
2. Daily time to switch off:– exercise; read for pleasure; laugh; meditate; have
a bath; do a hobby – anything you find relaxing
3. Everything changes; you’re not alone; talk
RELAXATION IS NOT A LUXURY
MY MAIN MESSAGE
You have more control
than you think:control your brain,
control your life
More information for you:
www.nicolamorgan.com