The Baffling Behavior Show {Parenting after Trauma} EP 244: When Watchdogs are Volcanoes: Activation below the Surface
Is your child suddenly quiet… but you can feel something bubbling under the surface?
They aren’t yelling, running, or arguing like usual- but you can tell their system is still fired up and on high alert.
Today, we’re talking about that “quiet volcano” version of watchdog energy. It looks calm. Still. Almost possum-like.
But inside? Their nervous system is holding a TON of activation right under the surface.
In this episode, you’ll learn how to tell the difference between true shutdown and contained watchdog energy, why some kids start holding everything inside, and how to help that “stuck” activation soften and move in safe, co-regulated ways.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why watchdog energy can go quiet and look totally still, even though it’s NOT regulated
- How to figure out what’s really going on underneath the “calm” exterior
- What to do when your child is a volcano on the inside, including simple movement-based strategies that help the nervous system come back into rhythm and relational safety
Read the full transcript at: RobynGobbel.com/volcanoes
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