Understanding Trauma: Learning Brain vs Survival Brain
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2017
- This video reframes a trauma perspective in terms of learning brain versus survival brain as a way to make it easier for teachers to talk about trauma with students.
PLEASE SHARE! You do not have to ask permission, but do leave a comment about how you are using it and whether it helped!
Animation by Thomas Moon
Dutch Translation by Felicity Jagger 
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Thank you, Jacob! What thoughtful, insightful videos! I'm inspired by your wisdom and generosity...definitely sharing with my friends and family! May we all be big mama elephants for each other!
❤️🐘🐘🐘❤️
Exceptionally well said and illustrated
Hello Jacob. :) I found your video about survival vs non survival brain. I have listened to a few of your videos because I am a teacher and I feel it is important to always refresh my mind. I'm also breaking free again from the survival mindset after an abusive relationship. I am wondering, are you bilingual and would you be interested in collaboration with me on something small. :)
i suffered cptsd. i survived 11 years of abuse from the so called love of my family and a sick father. my friends said my family would kill me one day. i htought i iout wit them in the game and they did not want to swallow i got to rise up to me over them and have a life thrive.. these are not educated intellegent persons but think they know and can control others. without any education. they have no insight to trauam even if they had to have something. i did not lose sight of me or break in 11 years of torture they did calling it love and the trauma. my father a sick dr. i had to be my own dr and know all of this shit from common sense. they wanted me to be the sick one. not them. it failed. i got the life and i was at risk. no dr cared to even care about what is trauma or me be at risk, i was an artist and got my life freedome talent back and was a target person of abusers. who could not fool or break me. they did not igve up. 24 years into my half my age miracle life after the list of them abiuser terorsit who seek to damage others with rape and abuse. failed. i manage to undermine them and get my it life happy after all them years and smile and know murder was up if i got there. not one drs cared about this and this is so basic a 15 year old could get it but not a family. What about drs,, Drs make all of this complicated and its just basic. When drs failed to recognize my trauma and at risk. i was left on my own . and i manage to keep survive until i was attack shark attack. taken by a plot and sucker punched and my life and all of ny work undermine by a game and raped and beaten down while drs refused to remove me until i began to die. my brain disintigrated while persons began to attack me and torture the genius out of me and i began to suffer the worst form of mental damage. i fought off rapist murdering abusers while family and drs ignor eme because they wanted me to be mentally ill. now they got it. Trauma. is so simple if you get it at onset and i got to drs and they made me feel i was talking some strange delusion and did not remove me, and i was mutiated.. i sent this mans stuff to a sister to get her to wake up.. an she called me violent and jelous of her. insane . i am to die now on death row of tragic im sitting on death row as terminaly damaged and tortured for 4. years. i wonder why this man is teaching.. if drs do not know this and he does not take new patients..
I totally agree about the baby and mommy elephants.,
I’ve been told I was stupid my entire life by my parents, teachers etc. I wish they knew how chaotic my home life was..screaming, violence, abuse, affairs and sexual abuse….I joined the military because I assumed I wasn’t smart enough for college.
Years later in college I was surprised to find I made the deans list. One day I had a teacher pull me into his office to discuss my writing. I figured it was to accuse me of cheating etc. come to find out he was so impressed with me, he wanted me to tutor others..I cried the way home. I’ve never had anyone praise my academics in 25 years…
It's absolutely terrible how the adults in our life can knock our confidence at such a young impressionable age. It can be so hard to believe in ourselves when we're constantly being told negative things or living in a negative unhealthy environment. So proud of you for breaking through the barriers and learning to believe in yourself and in your potential. May you keep on growing, learning and being proud of your great achievements 💪 God bless you 🙏💖
Amazing keep it up !! Thank you for sharing
I can so relate... I got a 2.8 in high school, similar for bachelors... and then in Master's got a 4.0 and was offered scholarships for PhD!
Beautiful to hear! Your resilience is inspiring, keep it going you've got this!
I’m stuck in survival mode. Everything seems stressful and heavy
Change your diet.
@@mh1066 Thanks for the advice. I am trying to eat raw foods and drink water.
Mine- *is both 50/50*
Same
I know what you mean Candace...
As a clinical Pharmacist I can suggest some crucial proven factors...
Excercise (actually makes more neurotransmitters such as serotonin (the brains 'happy' chemical) dopamine, endorphins etc) ...thus calming the mind and improving physical health! If I had a pill that had all the benefits of exercise it would be the worlds most valuable pill. e.g.
according to new research, experts have found that consistent aerobic exercise may not only slow down the effects of aging, but ultimately REVERSE the effects.
- Meditation...
This is huge...actually shrinks the amygdala...the small area of brain that is the culprit...it "fires" off the 'perceived threat' alarms in the first place! So calming these amygdalae ( there are two..mone on each side) actually heals the brain.
Others are of course Sleep, Nutrition, Social contacts, and just doing more of what you enjoy...and finally...
Everything in moderation ..is my motto.
Holy shit this guy has a really soft and soothing voice.
Im watching this while falling asleep and i swear all these people have pure asmr voices
Was wondering why none has mentioned that☺
@@ananth227 why don’t you ?
I know!
He sounds like Yo Yo Ma...He really does.
This explains my entire life. Why it's so much harder than other people to do or learn anything.
Same. Now the problem is to rewire our brain. How could we do that lol :')
It's definitely possible. Keep listening to what your body and soul think are the next steps. each person's path is differnt.
@@JacobHamPhD Thank you for the reminder, Jacob. It took a long time for our emotional wires to get crossed & for seemingly-perpetual survival mode to become the norm.
Listening to "what the body & soul think are the next steps" as you remind us here. And when I'm not listening to YOUR calming, wise voice -- which I love so much -- then my own patient, gentle self-reminders are helping me find the narrow path which often feels hidden ... like moving through a thick dark forest on a moonless night.
In all my time of learning i have been in survival mode.
same
Me in high school...
U can say that again
Yep
Me too, till this day
This is great. My wife and I deal with this daily with our son adopted form Ukraine. His survival brain is so strong from trauma starting in infancy, that he can't trust, can't relax and learn or even grow. He's almost 16 and still the size of a 7 year old because his brain won't let his body grow.
One thing I would add to this for teachers, is that we don't make them feel safe by being weak and coddling... giving in to their demands, desires, and manipulations. Momma elephants are stong and hard. Survival brain can step down and relax only when the kids are surrounded by strength and structure. If the child can lie to you and manipulate or get away with something, that demonstrates to them that you're not strong, and not safe. To be safe you need to have solid expectations and stick to them relentlessly. It's hard.
Wow, sounds like you've learned some tough lessons learning how your particular child may have needed to be loved.
Hello Timothy, Thank you for sharing a little bit about your journey with your son. I train people who want to work in disasters to provide psychological first aid to those impacted by the disasters. In the trainings we discuss how our brain subconsciously controls us physically in areas of sickness, development etc. without us knowing it. I've never personally known anyone that can share this kind of example from their own lives before. Would you be open to connecting and sharing more of your experience so that I can educate people that respond to those in trauma better?
Try EMDR therapy
One student I had worked with has the height and body of a 9 years old although she is now about 20 years old. It was hypothesized the lack of B12 or dietary nutrients are major contributors if some individuals are small built, due to lack of proper nutrition in formative years.
@@JacobHamPhD So the key is tp have grounded and realistic expectations?
This so describes 90% of my entire life....
...
No one tells you how hard and helpful is for a survivor of childhood abuse to study psychology. I think it will be extremely helpful to explain patients things like this.
It's too bad people didn't know about this in the 1970's when I was going through trauma and neglect at home which caused me to struggle through my early school years and resulted in me not graduating until I was 20. I am being treated for ADHD as an adult but it's most likely complex PTSD. I have made a lot of advances in my life but yet, everyday I secretly live in fear and tend to isolate due to some unrealistic idea that I will be hurt. Please parents, do not hurt your children because in the end it is possible they may live terror as an adult.
Well said
someone should make videos like this about how to support adults with a trauma history - great!
There are plenty of videos of baby boys being sexually tortured and genitally mutilated right here on RUclips, yet doctors ignore circumcision like it is as innocuous as a flu shot. Quack! Quack! Quack!
The good news is ALL of this applies to adults just as it does to children, especially if those adults have untreated trauma themselves (as many of us do). Think about the baby elephant analogy and how it relates to collaboration at work. We're more likely to try and learn new things when we feel supported and encouraged to try new approaches to our work; many I work with often say they're "just surviving" when asked how they are, and it always makes me think of this.
@@amandacourtney9806 dealing with a current trauma induce on me by preditors family after it took me 24 years to overcome their so called toxic love.. and abuse. they said of course they did nothing to me. but abus eme induce munchausen by proxy set me up for murder and left me deaf ear and blind as i was a victim and shuut me up. but made bold actions to come aft3er me when i escape and became free. what is that about. th3 sister who was working with fath3er said at age 35. it was a form of protection i was a hostage for over 11 years i was 29 when i escape them and the love left me speachless and fearful and unable to be near strangers and it took work to ovecome. as i got there i was retrauatiaed in a twin experience and th3ey removed my tools to do this sent me back to heall damage my brain and induce deat3h on me. while the family was now put in to do same thing and toss me a few dollars and leftme to be turne into what they wanted of me not who i got to me . they are not here learning about trauma. that is criminal and fear if i ahd power they would be punished so i was labotomized. is also criminal..
There are many of them
@@jx14aby no shit sherlock
The baby elephant analogy is a beautiful way to describe the importance of a community of strong, loving adults for hurting children and teens.
Yes! And a community of strong, loving adults for ADULTS who are hurting too. We're all hurting at varying levels, especially trauma survivors (PTSD / cPTSD) & can use some mama elephant helpers around us. I believe with all my heart that being in a community of supportive, loving others is one of the most healing supports we can have -- the care of mama elephants again. I so love Jacob Ham's way of grounding this type of caring with a powerful story filled with unforgettable images -- baby elephants & mama elephants. I've been on a slow trauma healing journey for about 30 years. I've learned & healed a lot but have much more healing ahead. I just wish I could have been a stronger, wiser mama elephant for my own kids, but I didn't have the knowledge then. Even now -- as an adult with grown kids (my kids & I are close & we talk about these things to help each other heal) I long for some strong, wise mama elephants to surround me. Meanwhile, I'm listening to & reading Jacob Ham's wisdom nearly daily, learning to love my "parts" (No Bad Part model from IFS), and choose to believe that I can love myself toward healing. It sure would be lovely though to have a community of others to share with and to support (both giving & receiving).
I could go on & on. Jacob's approach is a revelation to me (recently discovered Jacob via the Ten Percent Happier podcast a few months ago). Anyway, on this front of healing trauma through community, I'm considering looking for MeetUp groups for some in-person connection with others who are trauma survivors & who hopefully follow Jacob Ham's healing modality which I see as mostly Internal Family Systems work.
Wishing everyone here some peace & healing. Jacob Ham's voice alone is calming, healing, & a joy to listen to for me. I hear a caring in his voice that's genuine & free for everyone to partake of. Thank you Jacob!
I don't even know where to begin here. This video is amazing.
Maybe you could make a video on what that 'safety' for kids who've been traumatized is. What safety looks like, and practical tips for that. In other words, how to make a child who's experienced trauma feel safe.
I agree would love to see that.
That is exactly I want to know after this video.
Finally someone that understood things
I was talking about this concept with my daughter who is about to have her first child. She was asking me how she will know what to do, I told her that she just has to provide a safe and supportive environment for her child to flourish.
As someone with childhood trauma who was labelled as lazy in school, thank you for explaining this so plainly. I really hope people take this on board because I see a lot of 'trauma-informed' practice on paper, but it doesn't quite translate to irl working for a lot of professionals.
"... more important than curriculum is making sure the students feel like they're surrounded by big mama elephants."
God bless you. I hope that this video will reach teachers who will turn around and reach students.
This is so helpful for our teachers, especially in light of coping with the trauma of COVID-19. Your
Dealt with trauma for 73 years it really has taken a toll on my being!!!!!
I am adult trying to piece together the damage to my brain. Incredible childhood trauma. I always thought I was just dumb. As im learning, turns out I never got the help I desperately needed. Thankyou
I just recently reached out to Disability services within my university and unfolded an immense amount of emotion and how trauma has been affecting my ability to start the writing process for an essay due for one of my courses. The Disabilities advisor shared her story to the best of her ability to convey understanding for my situation and granted me extra time to turn in the assignment. This was very helpful for me as I am only now recognizing my own trauma and being in that survival state of mind and how hard it is for me to transition into the learning state of mind.
My 18 yo diagnosed with RAD six years ago plans to attend university in the fall. I want to encourage her of the benefits of seeking a Disability Services Advisor. Any tips from your own positive experiences?
This is a wonderful explanation! I am a teacher, and also someone who suffers from complex-post traumatic stress disorder, so I enjoy learning about things that impact myself, and also my students. I'm often struggling to explain to others WHAT a supportive, responsive adult does for young children. Too often in the education system, the focus is on the inappropriate behaviour. Others seemed to have the impression that I don't discipline my students but they miss that the goal isn't to punish the student when they do something wrong in the misguided attempt to ensure that behaviour never happens again. When in actuality, we need to focus on helping the child recognize what is going on internally and externally when he/she is overwhelmed or feeling anxious, sad, etc....and what they can do about it.
This short video says a lot. As someone in survival mode I noticed my main motivation was the fear of failure whereas other students were naturally curious.
Wow, this visualization is so helpful. I have maybe a few handful of memories from the first 20 years of my life (I'm 30 now). This makes a lot of sense for me. It is debilitating and exhausting, I don't even answer my phone, check my mail and barely can handle dealing with anything that remotely causes me stress. I've learned to "crawl into a hole" pretty much and just avoid everything in life. I force myself to do things for my kids but I still massively struggle with basic things which makes life and parenthood so scary and difficult. People always think it's weird that I enjoy math so much but I always say that math is incredibly soothing to me because if my instructor shows me Step 1, 2, 3, etc., then I just refer to those steps everytime and the answer is always correct. If there is ANY ambiguity in what I have to do to achieve something, it feels terrifying and I succumb to defeat. In school/college, it is expected that your teacher will guide you to the solution and they won't assign something that is not achievable...I find major comfort in that. Whereas with real life, I feel like an infant thrown to the wolves most of the time Haha. Anyway, thank you for this information, the more I learn, the more I feel like I can find the appropriate specialist to hopefully have the answers to guide me to eventual recovery.
love this comment. it's so heartfelt. i hope the best for you. sitting in complexity and ambiguity is definitely the key!
Wow! This is very helpful! Unfortunately, due to trauma from childhood, my brain has always been in survival mode. It’s very exhausting. I’m reaching a point where it’s affecting my physical health. So I’m looking for as many resources as I can to help me grow. I’m 33yrs. I’m sure there’s some hope for me. :)
There is definitely hope. I see it happen every day.
I know someone who is 38 and same situation. I sure wish I knew too what is the method for helping the most.
MENCADO thank you. Is this a book? Or is this an interview?
@@mollyisagurl8771 It's a RUclips video.
EFT therapy really helped me with this, good luck on your journey
This is such a beautiful illustration. After the pandemic, everyone has been traumatized a bit. I know this is geared towards teachers and children BUT I think right now, this applies to adults too.
Yeah, definitely.
Saw this video as part of a school staff professional development. Really good reminder, especially working in inner city schools with underprivileged students.
It makes sense why I barely have any memory of the first two decades of my life. Ive always thought that i simply just got used to quickly forget things because I had to become good at forgeting/avoid recalling traumatic events in my childhood to be a bit normal. As i grow older, everyday i feel like i need to pretend to be a normal person and not let my true self excape my fake shell.
I am still on my journey towards having more of a learning brain, but my brain was in full-on survival mode for most of college. I went to an Ivy League school and it was a terrible catch-22, because of course anyone would love to have a learning brain in a place with so much to learn, but I was absolutely paralyzed. I took a year off to work in a different city and now I'm in the major I always wanted to do, but which my school never had until now, so things are much better for me. But looking back on it now, and watching this video, I realize it is such a shame how many students have this survival brain experience, because I know I'm far from the only student who had an experience like mine.
i'm glad this opened up compassion in you for others
I'm finally beginning to understand myself and how debilitated I've been. I did well in school, but I was very black and white and I would get really, really upset if I didn't understand what was being taught.
I think there's a lot of wisdom, strength and resilience in tolerating complexity and maintaining self-awareness in the middle of it too. So, kudos to you for making this realization. It's a great step forward.
Stafford. Blue. Van. Orange. Brae van. Henry. Spencer. Cranky.
Green. Salty. Pink. Truck. Blue. Van. J
Green. Salty. Pink. Truck. Blue. Van. Mavis. Edward. Jack. House.
LTTPUK meeee ugggh it’s exhausting
I shared this with my camp counselors last year to help them understand our campers better.
Oh my goodness!!
Such a lovely analogy with the baby elephant !!!
Thanks so very much!!
This subject is extremely important!!!
If we can heal ourselves we can cause a shift in the human paradigm that no longer considers child abuse!!!
My survival brain was even more battered by my father who yelled at me every homework session!
I’m a SURVIVOR of terrible neglect and emotional abuse!
I’m trying to help others heal before they reach 65!
EMPOWEROURHUMANITY 🙏☯️🙏☯️🙏
This helps me understand myself a little better
So helpful! I grew up in a pretty intense and stressful learning environment, and starting school at age four probably didn't help things either. I basically feared for my life every day when I was little. I'm now learning what effects that probably had on my brain and development. The toughest part about trying to heal, is the chronic insomnia that's been with me since childhood...without medication. :/ Anyway, thank you for your soothing voice and this VERY helpful video that you made, Jacob. What a gift!
Adelsmana, How are you now ? Be careful what you feed your mind. To feel better reduce negative thoughts and overthinking. Avoid comparing with others, reduce negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives relief from stress-anxiety. To relax sit on a chair or lie down, neck straight, eyes closed, avoid moving too much and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for 5-10-15 minutes or more. Never meditate with expectations but with awareness. Don’t fight your thoughts. With daily practice the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Observe your breath sensations before sleep, in college, at work, taking a walk, when reading, etc.etc. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a better life. Best wishes--Counsellor.
Thankyou so much !!! I grew up in an institution and I’ve never understood why I feel dread and panic whenever I want/ need to learn something.
Jacob, your video is really blessed me a lot. It helps me to see the relationship between heart and brain. My friend Herry share Proverbs, he mentions about trust in the Lord with all your heart. Dont rely on your understanding...in my understanding, this match with the important value of trust....trust in the Lord...it become make senses to me. Thank you so much Jacob, you really smart, kind and generous, pray for happiness in your life
Thank you! I think I've realized just how much trauma I've been through. Even though I'm 50, I've recently lost both parents, been through a divorce, lost a step-daughter & my best friend to cancer, have had health issues of my own - all within the last 4 years. Losing my mom (last April) - I lost that last bit of "safety" that you talk about with the baby elephant. Even though I have been on my own for years, I have a career (although my job status is changing, as well), emotionally, there's no safety net & I feel I am in Survival Brain. Understanding what's going on helps tremendously! Not out of the woods just yet, but understanding it is the first step. Again, thank you for this!
Thank you i try understand i think and heared your amygdala can be broken Im 50 and now alone traumatised sick so see no one hear no one .. rejected by family long time home prison
Docters need help me im al summer and winter in hous feel like dying in panic dont have anyone anymore to talk was locked up before 7 years How to heal a broken borderline depression ..amygdala person .. pleac
This brought me to tears. I was directed to this by the Vice Principal I work for. Having been through considerable trauma myself, I have such a heart for these children. Your analogies are perfect, and really put all of this into ways I can better communicate these ideas to the children I work with. I still catch myself in Survival Brain, its a painful place to be. Learning Brain is winning, though. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
amazing. thank you for sharing. this is very touching.
Thank you so much, Dr. Ham! I am going to use this as part of a webinar on trauma for the University of Hawai'i, along with "Trauma Informed Starts with You". I appreciate your work!
thank you so much I suffer from survival brain but never had the language to express why learning was so painful for me.
I wish my professors could watch and understand this
I don’t feel stupid or doubt any of my abilities. The rest however resonates.
I always tell people I’m not sysiphus (no idea how it is spelled). I didn’t think anyone even knew what it was or the actual story. This was a pleasant surprise. Thank you for posting
This video is so insigthful. I will be showing your video to special educators and administrators at the 45th Annual LRP's National Insititute on Legal Issues of Educating Individuals with Disabilities in May of 2024. Myself and a colleague will be presenting a session on Writing and Implementing Behavior-Based Goals in the Post-COVID-19 Era. Your message will support our premise that students have been through alot and the survival brain is over working at this time. Thanks for allowing us to share your wisdom.
Thank you so much for this video! I am a school social worker and clinical therapist and I share this video with educators to help illustrate how trauma impacts learning to build empathy and understanding when supporting students with behavioral, emotional, and/or social challenges! Such a valuable resource!
that's awesome. thank you for sharing.
This was extremely enlightening and has caused me to rethink and examine how i interact with and teach my children. Thanks a miliion.
I'm very impressed with your explanation analogies using "learning brain" and "survival brain." You should be doing teacher training seminars to elementary, junior and high high school teachers!
Great job and excellent easy to understand video!
Jacob GO OUT!! YOU MUST OFFER THIS VIDEO TO SCHOOLS DIRECTORS to show it from the teachers to the students!!! Man you are part of that bunch of people here to awaken people, let them understand that causing trauma is a way to enslave people to control them via reducing their ability to assess reality and act to fix wt is needed. Many many youngers are lead to drugs and alcohol like this!! Go out man save kids and youngers!!! THANK YOU FOR THIS!!!
Hi Jacob, I'm a Masters in Mental Health Counseling student and mother of 3, I shared your awesome video with a few of my fellow classmates.
This is an amazing video - well put together and easy to understand. Watching this video at age 45 this has given me insight into myself despite over a decade of counseling and trauma work. This explains all of my education years as well as being under employed for my skillset. Will listen to it several times.
Videos like this make me start thinking maybe I'm not just too slow or stupid to be back in college, and in the major I'm in. I've had these moments of peace and wonder at this subject. It's why I decided to go back to school in the first place. But then, so many awful things have happened, and now I'm still trying to make it on my own with my job and schoolwork, to deal with the grief and the loneliness but still get things done by deadlines, and I just feel so overwhelmed almost every day. I feel like maybe I'm not cut out for it, I wonder why I have to devote so much of my time when it seems like many of the other students just get the material right away. I often feel like I should be perfectly capable of doing all this work in less time than it's taking me. My best friend reminds me sometmes that most of the other students are in their late teens, early 20s and probably haven't lost 5 family members in the past two years, and taken care of a chronically ill family member, then lost them. I did that while I was in school, and working full time. Somehow, I passed that semester with two Bs and a C in Physics, Calculus, and Astronomy. I can still remember working on homework while sobbing, while wondering why I was still trying because at that point I thought I must be too stupid to learn this stuff. I'm doing better now, but still have days where I just can't seem to get things right, I can't focus, I'm thinking only about getting through this and resting, even after a whole summer of rest except for work. Maybe it's time I actually sought out counseling. I know I can do well. But I've been slipping again lately, back into that panicky state, that "get all these things done on time or you'll lose everything. Stay up all night if you have to " state of mind.
This needs to be heard by all teachers and schools... the message is extremely important, and it has been largely overlooked by the educational system. Rather than labelling a kid as being “adhd” or “slow” etc. more emphasis should be given at ensuring that the right conditions for learning (I.e. safety) , are cultivated for each child....
oh god, this was so helpful! i teach in a special needs school and this just affirmed, that building a relationship with a student in the beginning is so much more important than moving on in the curriculum. thank you!
Makes a lot of sense to me who just passed through survival mode and my large ball of stress, to finally getting what my councilors are explaining to me (learning brain). I can also relate to the safety of a herd of adult elephants to feeling unprotected as a child.
HOLY COW!! He just explained my 50+ years of "survival brain!" There's no rest. It's always in "watch for the threat" mode.
Very informative video. One more suggestion. Be careful what you feed your mind. To feel better reduce negative thoughts and overthinking. Avoid comparing with others, reduce negative social media and avoid constipation as it affects the mind instantly. Your breathing is closely related to the brain [mind] and gives relief from stress-anxiety. To relax sit on a chair or lie down, neck straight, eyes closed, avoid moving too much and observe the sensations of your incoming--outgoing breath at the entrance of the nostrils for 5-10-15 minutes or more. Never meditate with expectations but with awareness. Don’t fight your thoughts. With daily practice the mind will relax. No deep breathing needed. Observe your breath sensations before sleep, in college, at work, taking a walk, when reading, etc.etc. Like me, make this a lifetime daily habit to have a better life. Best wishes--Counsellor.
This was excellent! The next question would be how to help teachers recognize when the learning brain versus the survival brain is present.
thank you for taking the time to comment. I'll put that on the ever growing list of videos to make. now, if only i had the time and money to keep this going more regularly!
I think Psychologists/Psychiatrists should lecture all teachers while they're in training. This should be an absolute must, so that teachers can recognise the symptoms of a 'frozen or damaged brain' early on in the child's school attendance, otherwise their next 12 years could be futile. They'd stay stuck!
I love this....I think as adults we need this also👍
I watched your clip the other day. And Today I heard from my child's teacher saying what she did at school was the same intention as you explained at the clip: to provide a environment where the kids are happy and emotional secure so that they can take on their own leanring jounery. She has been the mama elephant. Wow. I felt all the years of reflection (painful at times)on my insecurity upbringing has paid off and guided me to make the choice for my children's schooling . And I am grateful and can see it clearly now.
that's wonderful!
Been 50 months since my survival brain went to high gear. Still having extreme difficulty getting outta it. The only good thing is I made a full recovery as possible because of it. Shattered hip shattered pelvis broke right shoulder broke 10 ribs severe hypothermia bruised lungs bruised femer. I was alone and 60 second walk took hours inch by inch. I then laid under trucks exhaust pipe to thaw out. I then climb in call for my medivac. I visualized every inch that day. Your words are so true
How generous and kind of you. Thank you for posting. I wish more people understood how draining it is to be so hypervigilant all the time. After meditation, exercise, etc. it’s still the norm; I despair that hyper vigilance will ever become my exception.
Your voice is very soothing too.
That may actually be very true, though less and less. I still plan on making another video explaining why this is but in short I think the trick is to exercise purpose and intention (and all the other skills of the prefrontal cortex) in order to modulate the hyper-vigilance. I've just run out of money and time to make more videos for now. Each of these videos takes about 20 hours and a lot of money to make. I should really look into a patreon page...
Stafford. Blue. Van. Orange. Brake van. Henry. Spencer. Cranky. Hack.
Jacob Ham
Stafford. Blue
Thank you for sharing. This is so vital! Especially as trauma is such a widespread thing.
watching that baby elephant smiling and dancing around on two legs was very enjoyable
I’m a 56 year old woman who survived childhood trauma from domestic violence, and I still function mostly from survival brain. I want to be carefree like the baby elephant!
yeah, it doesn't change without intentional effort for sure...
@@JacobHamPhD I would like to learn how to come out of this pattern. Do you have books to read that can help?
Same here
@@kat482 it’s really hard, but we CAN change. Don’t give up! 😊
My brain is mostly in survival mode when it comes to school.
This is an excellent, easy to understand explanation of the differences between a traumatized/survival brain and a learning brain. It's quick and easy for teachers to understand as well.
Wow..I like his voice , illustrations and lesson. I am a person who had a very scary father, who would flare up and hit me or verbally berate me. Im 55 and still cant seem to feel at ease around people . I am a perfectionist , always seeing whats wrong or needs to be improved . I prefer to think about negative news. Have trouble feeling I deserve play time like the baby elephant . Makes me sad, but God is teaching me how to feel empowered thru prayer, but my brain is messed up .i can feel the intensity. Yet Pot helps to release it ... shine a light in the false energies. But I'm still sad about it. This video reminds me to not be late , to avoid making the stress rock bigger than it needs to be in the morning, going to work . Thank u.
I have used this video to train teachers, but also to train potential foster parents. Such important stuff! Thank you!!
thank you for letting me know. I'm glad it's doing some good in the world.
Such a great analogies! Thank you! Your video is relevant to people at all ages.. and especially the elderly when they start to lose functioning. They get really stressed from their losses and go into survival mode.
You are insanely intelligent, I’ve been through so many of your videos- thank you for putting in a lot of effort to educate people, it really helps. All the best.
This was really helpful.. this is what i personally struggle with. I'm just trying to grow in my workplace, but i feel constantly defeated and exhausted trying. I don't really believe i CAN keep growing the way i want to.
You explained that so beautifully and clearly, I had a felt sense of so much tenderness and sweetness of the baby elephant surrounded by mama elephants and how children need that loving support and safety so they can learn and be resilient. Thank you
Yay! I wanna teach through the felt sense, not through logic.
this is so great. such an easy explanation of how children respond to trauma and the need of the adults around them to be a safe supportive base.
Beautifully said and explained, thank you.
Simply spoken, beautifully diagrammed and elegantly said. Thank you Mama/Papa Elephant!
This is great - I'm using this to train new mental health support staff on why kids don't learn from punishment (they are in survival brain, not learning brain when being yelled at) and hopefully to coach parents on new approaches.
Thank you so much! This explains so much. Perfect description of survival mentality!
used this to teach my peers about trauma informed teaching in my education class. very helpful, thanks!
Thanks! I've seen others teaching about the survival brain in a way that causes confusion and misunderstanding; this is very clear and concise.
What a wonderful way to explain the incredible impact feeling safe has in the learning process.
Thank you so much Jacob! I loved this video. Being trauma informed is so important for anyone interacting with children on a daily basis. If we can all be "mama elephants", we can create a world where children can feel safe, secure, and loved. Big hugs from Maine!
The only way you can overcome is when you know the problem start focusing on yourself and listing your inner voices
Very insightful. We need to stop telling ourselves that kids are resilient so we recognize what's really going on.
i would say do both: know that kids are resilient and recognize what's really going on. The world is both beautiful and horrible. Being able to sit in both is the trick I think.
This is so incredibly helpful and easily understood! Thank you!
Wow! What a great perspective! I can see just how this has played out in my life and my children's lives, experiencing both ends of the spectrum at various times. It's so true that a relaxed brain works better....minimizes survival mode!
Thank you so much. I struggle with Survival Brain much of the time and it really slows me down learning new things. I'm 40 and I'm working very hard to learn to calm down and stop worrying about messing things up.
I will absolutely use this in my work to get every 9th grader on track for graduation- it speaks to me as an educator too - I think the adults need to unpack their trauma so they can mindfully support students
That's wonderful to hear.
This is amazing I wish there was more information out there on learning when suffering from trauma.
Thank you! Very well articulated about the emotions that keep us stuck or free. Very valuable language.
Thank you so much for talking about this...Studying was always my survival mechanism. Nobody understood me, the parents obviously really didn't care let alone the teachers. Grateful that you are sharing awareness on such topics. Lots of love.
Was just sent this video and wow!
Your clarity, relevant examples and soothing speaking style ensure that your message will be heard and integrated. I just subscribed!
this is one of the best videos i have found about the behaviors for PTSD> and its laymans terms
This is wonderful! Thank you!
This is a very helpful beginning. I teach high school and I have several traumatized students. I try to be that safe adult, but I feel like I need more training to reach them. They are so guarded and distrustful.
I'm now 62 and the schools I went to had no idea I was an abused child from my very earliest years. I was mute at school and because I spent nearly all my time gazing (1000 yard stare) I was severely punished by the so called teachers! which obviously traumatised me even more! I was bullied/tortured by the other kids from the day I started school, to the day I walked out - I learnt absolutely nothing! And still suffer the consequences of undiagnosed childhood trauma to this day. Only last year I got a diagnosis of CPTSD!
congrats on the new diagnosis and good luck and god speed
Thank you for sharing!
All your analogies are spot on and so helpful for teaching these concepts simply to teachers and parents and really any adult teaching another human a thing. Thanks for making this!
thank you!
You explained what I have been dealing with all this time! Thanks!
Thank you Dr Ham. This is a great explanation for teachers who feel their responsibility is to teach a lesson not to provide comfort to angry 4-year-olds.
This video is really good. It clearly communicates complex information in a clear and relevant way for educators. I have been using in presentations with teachers and this really resonates with them.