YOUR BRAIN IN YOUR HANDS

What will you do with it?

www.nicolamorgan.com

For schools and teachers

Today, I want to share with you:

USEFUL THINGS• Something about how our brains learn• How teenage brain changes affect you• What stress is – and why it’s good• What bad stress is – and how to deal with it

How you can get more information:

• My books– About your teenage brain: – About teenage stress:

• My website: www.nicolamorgan.com– And my blog– Ask me a question

• Your handouts today• My presentation is online – see my blog today

Warning…

I’m going to change your brain

“She does not seem to have a great deal of apptitude for science subjects.”

“She does not seem to have a great deal of apptitude for science subjects.”

Would you like to see a brain?

How we do things: pathways between 100 billion neurons

Unused neurons

More developed neurons

How do we grow those connections?

• Trying and practising• Watching someone else• Sleeping– Sleeping brain focuses on things we struggled with

• (Also: breaks + F2F socialising + exercising)

What can makes life different for teenagers?

• Internal: things in your brain and body

• External: things going on around you

Biological differences in:

• Sleep – need more; sleepy later• Emotions – stronger; harder to control• Risk-taking – extra need for excitement• Social pressure – VERY important• Self-consciousness – overwhelming

PREFRONTALCORTEX(thinking +

control)

AMYGDALA(emotion + instinct)

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STRESS

Chemicals

Adrenalin and cortisol• Heart beats faster and we breathe faster• Blood + oxygen +energy rush to brain and

muscles

• => SUPER-PERFORMANCE

Good stress / bad stress

• Stress is good when it helps us perform well

• But bad if it is too strong (panic) or goes on too long without breaks– affects sleep, mood,health, mental health,performance

Common causes of stress for you

• Exams and schoolwork• Friendship problems• Problems and worries at home• Teenage brain changes• Emotions – fear, anger, sadness• “Intrusive thoughts”

Intrusive thoughts: negative pathways…

ESSENTIAL STRATEGIES

1. Instant: – Breathing/relaxation skill (see my website)

2. Daily time to switch off:– exercise; read for pleasure; laugh; meditate; have

a bath; do a hobby – anything you find relaxing

3. Everything changes; you’re not alone; talk

RELAXATION IS NOT A LUXURY

MY MAIN MESSAGE

You have more control

than you think:control your brain,

control your life

More information for you:

www.nicolamorgan.com