Health Psychology Weeks 1-6 (Midterm) Flashcards
Define neuroception
an individualized, subconscious process that determines our state of activation
Neuroception is based on both ___ and ___ cues developed through our lived experience
External (environmental) and internal (sensations, emotions, beliefs)
Input from the body and outside world act as cues to the ___
brainstem
Core regulatory networks activate to communicate through ___ and ___ pathways, and through the autonomic nervous system
neuroendocrineneuroimmune
What are the 3 degrees of stress?
Positive - brief increases in HR, intensified focus, mild elevation in stress hormone levelsTolerable - serious but temporary stress responses mitigated by positive buffering influences or relationshipsToxic - intense prolonged activation of stress response systems without positive buffering influences or relationships
Feelings of safety emerge from internal physiological states regulated by the ___
autonomic nervous system
Feelings of safety are operationally the product of ___ via neuroception
cues of safety
True or False: the mental and physical health consequences of adversity are reflected in a retuned autonomic nervous system, locked into states of defense, that limit access to the calming pathways through the ventral vagus associated with sociality
True
Neuroception emphasizes a neural process distinct from ____ , and is capable of distinguishing environmental and visceral features that are safe, dangerous, or life-threatening
perception
True or False: a form of neuroception can be found in virtually all living organisms, regardless of the development of the nervous system
True
Social ____ is a core biological imperative for humans
connectedness
An optimally resilient individual has opportunities to co-regulate ___ with a safe and trusted other
physiological state
Our capacity for connectedness requires an active _____ system, which broadcasts our accessibility
social engagement
True or False: The autonomic state of an individual serves as a functional map for emergent behavioural, emotional, and physiological reactivity
True
True or False: If feelings are negative and dependent on autonomic states supporting defense, the feelings may evolve into diffuse states of anxiety or specific emotions such as fear or anger
True
True or False: If feelings are positive and dependent on an autonomic state of calmness, these feelings may be associated with trust, love, and intimacy
True
Stress and threat cause disruption to the autonomic state, and metabolic resources are diverted from homeostatic functions to _____
survival needs
Resilience reflects a physiological state which is sufficiently resilient to recover from disruptions, support feelings of safety, and connect with others via an active ____ system
social engagement
____ is a neuromodulator that can optimize health, growth, and restoration
sociality
When our lived experience is stressful, basic needs aren’t met, and there is a lack of a nurturing environment, neuroception can become organized towards ____ as a default
survival
Adverse childhood experiences, developmental and relational trauma, a lack of a nurturing environment, and chronic stress can lead to changes in the ____
architecture of the brain
What are the symptoms of un-discharged traumatic stress - stuck on “OFF”
depression
flat effect
lethargy
deadness
exhaustion
disorientation
disconnection
disassociation
complex syndromes
pain
low BP
poor digestion
What are the symptoms of un-discharged traumatic stress - stuck on “ON”
Anxiety
panic
hyperactivity
exaggerated startle
inability to relax
restlessness
hyper-vigilance
digestive problems
emotional flooding
chronic pain
sleeplessness
hostility/rage
Whenever we experience significant bodily or psychic tension, we are likely experiencing a _____
traumatic implicit memory
True or False: In line with its Greek origins, trauma means a wound
True
True or False: One mode of self-protection from trauma is to disconnect from our feelings
True
True or False: If the
early environment is unreliable or hurtful, we may develop a limited view of the
world in which we perceive threat even when there isn’t any or in which
we defensively deny or misperceive threat when it is present.
True
True or False: Our emotional system is
inseparable from the physiological apparatus responsible for our nervous
system, gut, immune defenses and hormonal functioning
True
Key aspects of relational health include having safe, stable, and nurturing ____ and ____
relationships
environments
What is an essential component of trauma-informed clinical care for health providers?
self care
____ is an internal response that occurs when we experience strong, frequent, or prolonged
adversity without adequate support. It overwhelms our ability to cope, and without support, our nervous system shifts into survival patterns.
trauma
True or false: The impact of developmental trauma is amplified due to its effects on a child’s developing brain
and body
true
Review the impact of childhood trauma:
Cognition
- impaired readiness to learn
- difficulty problem-solving
- language delays
- problems with concentration
- poor academic achievement
Physical health
- sleep disorders
- eating disorders
- poor immune system functioning
- cardiovascular disease
- shorter life span
Emotions
- difficulty controlling emotions
- trouble recognizing emotions
- limited coping skills etc.
Relationships
- attachment problems/disorders
- poor understanding of social interactions etc.
Mental health
- depression
- anxiety
- negative self-image/low self-esteem
Behaviour
- poor self-recognition
- social withdrawal
- aggression
Brain development
- smaller brain size
- less efficient processing etc.
What are the biological systems disrupted by toxic stress?
1) neurologic; neuroendocrine
2) immunologic/inflammatory
3) endocrine; metabolic
4) epigenetic; genetic
What are the mechanisms of neurologic/neuroendocrine disruption by toxic stress?
dysregulation of SAM and HPA axes; autonomic imbalance
What are the mechanisms of immunologic/inflammatory disruption by toxic stress?
increased inflammatory markers, especially TH2 response; inhibition of anti-inflammatory pathways; gut microbiome dysbiosis
What are the mechanisms of endocrine/metabolic disruption by toxic stress?
changes in growth hormone, thyroid hormones, and pubertal hormonal stress
What are the mechanisms of epigenetic/genetic disruption by toxic stress?
sustained changes to the way DNA is read and transcribed, and telomere erosion
True or false: Adverse childhood experiences are strongly associated with 9 of the 10 leading causes of death in the US
true
- heart disease, cancer, accidents/unintentional injuries, chronic lower respiratory disease, stroke, alzheimer’s disease or dementia, diabetes, kidney disease, suicide
What are the evidence-based buffering interventions?
mental health care
supportive relationships
quality sleep
balanced nutrition
physical activity
mindfulness practices
access to nature
True or false: connectedness has the power to counterbalance adversity
true
True or false: early in life, the experiences you have are most influential in shaping that world view
true
- if you have consistent, predictable, nurturing caregiving, your brain starts to feel that the world is safe
- if you have inconsistent, unpredictable, chaotic interactions with the people who are caring for you, your brain starts to view the world as an
unsafe place
What re the 3 core human needs?
1) safety
2) belonging
3) mattering
What is attachment?
Attachment is the perceptual foundation of our experience of our self and forms
the basis for our life narrative. it helps us to understand default patterns
attachment = meeting discomfort and distress with reliable, loving care so as to
soothe the baby/young child and establish CNS patterns of trust, security, and
comfort.
- it is about providing consistent and kind response that regulated and entrains emotional health and a healthy stress system
A ____ attached relationship completes the natural stress cycle, alleviates toxic
cortisol, and is a predictor of lifelong health outcomes (biological, social,
psychological).
securely
What are the 2 pathways of healthy attachment?
- healthy attachment = secure attachment = positive relational experience = good
for your brain = adaptive coping = resilient to life challenges = better physical
and mental health outcomes - healthy attachment = trust and security in self/other = healthy sense of self,
emotional regulation, assertive behavior = resilience to life challenges = better
physical and mental health outcomes
____ is malleable with experience and intention, and either acts as a resiliency
factor to be drawn upon or a risk factor to be aware of
attachment
Describe the 4 attachment styles
Secure style: approx. 60% of people; safety within themselves and in relation; an internalized sense
of security; people feel comfortable with intimacy and with independence; I’m ok, you’re ok
- vulnerability: “ my feelings are hurt but I trust I’m safe”
- protective feeling: discomfort, concern
3 insecure styles:
Anxious style: template is safety in the presence of another; people are often preoccupied with
their relationships; they find safety in the immediate presence of another; they may pursue the
other and tend to worry about the other person’s ability to love them back; I’m not ok you’re ok:
high dependence + low avoidance (poor internal model for self creates great need for relationship)
- vulnerability: “i feel so rejected, sad and alone. I’m being abandoned. Things are going to fall apart”
protective feeling: anger, indignant, overwhelmed by feelings
Avoidant style: template is safety in disconnection from others; people learned that emotions are
not safe; they tend to equate intimacy with a loss of independence and may subconsciously try to
protect themselves from meaningful connection; I’m ok, you’re not ok: low dependence + high
avoidance
- vulnerability: “I feel rejected and alone, My body feels it but my brain isn’t aware and I can’t name it”
- protective feeling: shame, disavowed anger
Disorganized style: there was no template for safety, resulting in chronic tension between
connection and disconnection; I’m not ok, you’re not ok, but I want you anyway: high
dependence + high avoidance
- vulnerability: “I feel rejected, alone and attacked, I’m in danger”
- protective feeling: numb or enraged
What is the common denominator in insecure styles of attachment?
- an insecure sense of self, rooted in shame
SHAME is a belief that I am flawed; there is something inherently wrong with
me that is not fixable; if others knew the real me they would reject me
What are the behaviours you might observe in someone with secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment?
secure: talk about it; express feelings; seek reconnection and resolution
anxious: show anger, dysregulated blame, criticize, silent treatment as protest
avoidant: defend self; counter-attack; retreat to escape situation; non-responsive, passive aggressive
disorganized: got to extremes; fight hard, run away, shut down, become destructive and/or dissociative
Ventral vagal aligns with ____ attachment
secure
Sympathetic aligns with ____ attachment
anxious
Dorsal vagal aligns with ____ attachment
avoidant
Freeze aligns with ____ attachment
disorganized
Attachment style can influence:
relationships and behaviours
beliefs
how you explain events of your life
physical health
subconscious triggers
how you perceive stress, adversity, and challenge
how you react to and recover
coping strategies
the role people and relationships play in effort to cope with stress
True or false: most of us have a dominant style wired in as our first perceptual system in early childhood but you can lean into different relational patterns in different ages/stages of life and of different roles in life
true
What are the 4 common trauma responses and their nervous system state?
1) Fight response
- sympathetic
2) Flight response
- sympathetic
3) Freeze response
- freeze: dorsal/sympathetic
- shutdown: dorsal vagal
4) Fawn response
- dorsal sympathetic
What is fight response characterized by?
moving TOWARDS the danger or threat (real or perceived)
ex: anger, frustration, rage, aggression, perfectionism, control
What is flight response characterized by?
moving AWAY from the danger or threat (real or perceived)
ex: anxiety, panic, overthinking, escaping, distracting, avoiding
What are freeze and shutdown responses characterized by?
Freeze
- tonic immobility, deer in headlights, wanting to move towards or away from the danger or threat (real or perceived) but can’t
ex: stuckness, procrastination, doom scrolling, difficulty making decisions, urgency/exhaustion cycle
Shutdown
- immobility, unable to move towards or away from the danger or threat (real or perceived)
ex: sadness, shame, isolation, dissociation, numbness
What is the fawn response characterized by?
averting the threat or danger (real of perceived) by appeasing and pleasing
ex: people-pleasing, self-abandoning, codependency, playing small, lack of identity, avoiding conflict
Define attending
Attending is the ability to track autonomic states, see the movement between states, and create a moment-to-moment habit of noticing both large shifts and nuanced changes
Attachment is one of the most powerful influences on lifelong wellness and has 3 functions:
- creates basic perceptual schemas
- predicts adult behavior in relationships
- determines physiologic setpoint for stress systems → influential to
specific health outcomes
Describe how the psychophysiological works (1 year healthy attachment cycle)
Infant has need
Infant communicates need
Caregiver takes action to meet need
Satisfaction
Relaxation
Trust and confidence develop
What are the parental styles in the 4 attachments?
Secure:
* Parental Style: aligned with child and in tune with their emotions
Anxious:
* Parental Style – Inconsistent and sometimes intrusive parent communication
Avoidant:
* Parental Style – Unavailable/rejecting
Disorganized (fear-based):
* Parental Style – Ignored/didn’t see child’s needs; Parental behaviour was frightening/traumatizing
What are boundaries?
- a way to describe our interface with the world.
- describe our comfort level with regards to personal space and our they
describe our way of engaging with other people
What are the boundaries associated with attachment styles?
o Secure → healthy boundary
o Anxious → lack of boundaries
o Distant → rigid boundaries