1.

Mental State and Functioning

No items found.

Raise your hand if you've ever eaten food off the floor or couch because the effort it would take to put it in the trash felt far more burdensome than the effort to simply put it down the mouth hatch 🙋

Sigh. Making good decisions when you are:

Tired

Hungry

Lonely

Angry (yes my AA folks I see you putting the HALT together)

In loss and grief

In a change or transition

Anxious

Depressed

Stressed the f out

Over stimulated

Under stimulated

Dealing with oppression

Battling pain (chronic or not)

Etc etc.

We don't make our decisions simply from some clear moral center in our brains. We make our decisions from the contexts that are putting us into different mental states.

The more support and resources a person has the higher their capacity to learn how to take care of themselves, their loved ones and the greater community.

This is true for me. And all the adults I've ever met.

This is even more true for children whose brains are not even fully formed yet.

When a kid or a grownup is making poor choices, remember to see them in the context of their past and present. Remember to offer them (and yourself) compassion based on their context and understanding as a fellow human on this wild unpredictable, and sometimes painful ride.

‍

!7maZdGQE

Join the Attachment Nerd Herd

Complete access for $29

Similar to what you just watched

Helping Your Children Learn to be Kind
01:20

Learn why kindness is a learned behavior that requires empathy and space for development, especially for neurodivergent children, in this informative video that encourages viewers to seek evaluation if standard teaching methods are not effective.

View
How Do You Know if Your Child Has a Secure Attachment with You?
01:00

In this video, you'll learn that a securely attached young child expresses their distress, seeks proximity to their caregiver, and calms quickly, and that this pattern of express-seek-soothe can be seen throughout our lifespan, with teens seeking friends, adults seeking romantic partners or close friends, but always involving the freedom to have an emotional need, be close, and receive comfort at every stage of life.

View
Responding to the Big Questions
01:26

Learn how to handle difficult questions from children with these 3 simple tips: Be honest, be age-appropriate, and show them you care - watch this video now!

View