Toxic Stress and its Effect on Development.

Here is a short video clip that explains how toxic stress effects development. 

Learning to cope with stress is an important part of healthy development. When experiencing stress the stress response system is activated and once the stress is relieved the stress response winds down.  In severe situations of abuse or neglect where there is no caring adult to act as a buffer from the stressor, one’s stress response stays activated. Absence of response from adults and constant activation of the stress response system can seriously interfere and overload the developing system causing lifelong consequences. This is known as toxic stress. In areas of the brain dedicated to learning and reasoning the neural connections are weaker and fewer in number. This can be prevented if we encourage and bring awareness to the importance of a nurturing stable and engaging environment for children to grow and develop.

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