Stressed Out Brain – The film
‘Stressed Out Brain’ is a short animated film about the effects of toxic childhood stress.
The film contains a simple explanation of the stress mechanism and explains how prolonged or profound childhood stress can become toxic, changing the way the brain relates to the everyday world.
This can have a profoundly negative impact on young peoples behaviour and long term physical and mental health; but the film ends with a positive message, explaining that with help, the brain can learn to re-adapt to cope with the effects of toxic childhood stress.
The messages, content and design of the film were a co-production between the staff and young people of Early Break.
Click on the images to read the poem
Your brain is quite amazing,
and it is sometimes said;
It’s like you have an internet,
running through your head.
Your brain grows new connections,
as you learn from day-to-day.
Your brain has more connections,
than stars in the milky way.
It comes with built in software,
it’s hardwired for self-preservation.
It uses stress to keep you safe,
in a dangerous situation.
Imagine walking down the street,
well, the last thing that you need;
Is bumping into ‘Big Bad Dave’,
who you owe for an ounce of weed.
Your brain puts stress into action,
kick-starting your defenses.
This gives your muscles energy,
and sharpens all your senses.
Your brain is now on red alert,
you’re ready to run or fight;
But have you seen the size of Big Bad Dave?
Quick… get out of sight!
When you’re out of jeopardy,
And you’re sure the danger has passed,
your brain turns off this stress response,
you’re back to normal at last.
But for children who grow up living,
In constant fear or pain;
the stress response does not switch off,
it stays active in their brain.
The brain adapts so they survive,
but by the time they are a teenager,
the brain can struggle in every-day life,
it sees threats from every stranger.
Now some people smoke weed to cope with their stress,
which might help them to chill and relax;
but this can lead to more trouble,
it isn’t a cure, it’s papering over the cracks.
At Early Break we can help you, we’re not just about drugs and drinking;
we can teach you new life strategies and positive ways of thinking.
As we said at the start of this poem, you have a truly amazing brain,
if it adapted to cope with childhood stress it can learn to adapt back again.