509- Lifelong Effects of Bullying and the Brain’s Ability to Recover
Jul 2, 2024
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Dr. Jennifer Fraser discusses the lifelong effects of bullying on the brain, especially for individuals with ADHD. Topics include coping strategies, brain recovery, empathy neural networks, and stress management techniques. The podcast explores the impact of bullying on both victims and aggressors, highlighting the importance of addressing emotional harm. Strategies for enhancing brain function and managing stress are also shared.
Children with ADHD are more vulnerable to bullying, impacting brain function.
Understanding bullies' motives is crucial for comprehensive bullying prevention.
Cyberbullying lacks emotional cues, leading to serious brain impact and potential suicides.
Deep dives
Bullying's Impact on Children with ADHD
Children and teens with ADHD are more vulnerable to bullying due to impulsivity, low self-esteem, and struggles with social cues and executive functions. Bullying leaves lasting effects on the brain, visible in brain scans, and can impact both victims and aggressors. Dr. Fraser discusses the need to understand bullying beyond individual reasons and focus on the neurological aspects of those displaying bullying behavior.
Reframing the Bullying Discourse
Dr. Fraser challenges the conventional view that bullying targets are at fault, highlighting the importance of considering the aggressor's mindset and motives. By shifting the focus to the bullies' issues instead of blaming the victims' characteristics, a more comprehensive approach to addressing bullying can be adopted, aiming to reduce victimization and assist individuals displaying harmful behavior.
Impact of Cyberbullying on Brain Function
The anonymity of the internet contributes to the escalation of harmful behaviors, such as cyberbullying, which can have grave consequences on brain function. In face-to-face interactions, cues like emotional responses indicate harm, leading to a natural pause in harmful behaviors. However, online interactions lack these cues, hindering empathetic responses and potentially leading to increased youth suicide rates.
Link Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Bullying Behaviors
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have a profound impact on individuals, potentially leading to bullying behaviors later in life. Research suggests a correlation between childhood traumas, including bullying, and future engagement in aggressive or abusive actions. Understanding and addressing the root causes of bullying, often stemming from traumatic childhood environments, is crucial for prevention and intervention strategies.
Addressing Bullying through Brain-Informed Strategies
Dr. Fraser advocates for a neuro-informed approach to tackling bullying, emphasizing brain-safe environments, daily practices promoting empathy and emotional regulation, and interventions focused on repairing neural harm caused by bullying. By viewing bullying through a medical and neuroscientific lens, strategies can be implemented to support both targets and aggressors, fostering a safer and more empathetic school environment.
Children and teens with ADHD are more likely to be bullied than their neurotypical peers, and this bullying can physically harm their brains. Jennifer Fraser, Ph.D., shares strategies that can help children cope with bullies, and allow their brains to heal.
Thank you for listening to ADDitude's ADHD Experts podcast. Please consider subscribing to the magazine (additu.de/subscribe) to support our mission of providing ADHD education and support.
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