It is widely accepted and understood that how our mind perceives a given situation will determine how the brain responds. If our perception of a situation is one of fear, our brain responds by triggering the release of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. When we bask in a state of love, we release Oxytocin. The release of these hormones, immediately alter our physiology for the better or for the worse. Although it may be impossible to shelter a child from fear completely, the more we can do to prevent situations that trigger a sense of fear the better. Once a fearful situation is over and we can return to a calm environment, the faster they can recover and heal.
FEAR VS. LOVE
With every situation we face, our hypothalamus has but two perceptions of our immediate environment, one of safety and security, or one of fear and danger. When we perceive our current situation is one of danger, our thoughts trigger our brains to go into the fight or flight mechanism of the sympathetic nervous system. During this stress filled state, cortisol and adrenaline surge through our blood stream.
