Toxic Stress

• Chronic exposure to stressful situations where one PERCEIVES the situation as a threat vs. a challenge.

• Brain and body adapt to consistent hyper-arousal.

• Activates trauma reactions (flight, fight, flee) in body.

• Revs up the inflammatory system, shooting stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) throughout the body.

• Impairs mood regulation, emotional regulation, shortens one's "window of tolerance."

• Diminishes one's ability to access "higher brain" in the pre-frontal cortex.

Secondary Trauma

Symptoms

aka: Compassion Fatigue, Vicarious Trauma

• diminished joy toward things once loved

• feeling trapped by one's work

• feelings of hopelessness associate with teaching

• dealing with intrusive thoughts

• diminished sense of efficacy, satisfaction, and accomplishment

• loss of sleep

• increased irritation/ anger

• over or under-eating

• feeling jumpy or on edge

• worried about not doing or being enough for students 

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Resilience:

Style of Stress Perception

vs.