EMOTIONAL HEALTH
The Neuroscientific Power of Touch and Massage
Embrace Your Daily D.O.S.E! By Giuliana Wheater
As we all begin to finally emerge from what feels like the dark ages of lockdown and into a changed and changing world, we may have many conflicting emotions, thoughts, and anxieties. We had to transition very suddenly into a different version of normal and now we are trying to do the same but in reverse! It can be baffling and confusing; there might be aspects you’ll miss and others that you feel anxious about facing again. For those of us who are neurodiverse in a mainstream world, this is an even greater transition. For families, teachers, carers, and other professionals supporting those with neurodiversities, you might feel particularly trepidatious or fearful. So, here’s the first massive sunbeam of light to help us all find our way through. Whatever lies ahead as we move forward, YOU GROW YOUR OWN BRAINS. Yes, it’s absolutely true! Brains stop growing physically at around the age of 18, but what we do with the grey matter inside them is under our control throughout our whole lives. In other words, WE define US! We can grow or shrink grey matter around our amygdala/emotional brain (sometimes called the fear center), and we can grow or shrink it around the hippocampus (memory and learning) and our frontal lobe, which contains all those higher executive shiny brain functions. If we are stressed for prolonged periods or in flight or fight, the grey area around the emotional brain grows, and
Exceptional Needs Today | Issue 6 | 71
