Our hands have the power to send signals of safety and security to our brain through their grasping movement. The plethora of tactile calming toys on the market may be acceptable coping mechanisms to temporarily quell anxiety or stress, but provide only a short-term fix for more complex behavioral responses.
Oxytocin, often referred to as ‘the love hormone’ because of its release with physical touch, serves as a chemical messenger to our brain. Oxytocin is responsible for several functions at the beginning of life, but its calming effect on the body has a substantial impact on our behavior and our mental health.
Both of these grasping movements play a role in cling, the second stage of Moro’s integration. They build a sensation of safety and security in the world, enabling the ongoing development of fine and gross motor skills as reflexes integrate later in life.
These two reflexes, Root and Suck, are fully present at birth and essential for an infant’s survival. During the first month of life, the baby’s ability to explore the world is closely linked to grasping and oral reflexes. Together, the Root and Suck reflexes serve as a means of soothing through bonding and nourishment.
In this case study, our young client was constantly on edge, prone to outbursts and overstimulation. Naps were a struggle and noises were too much. Once she started to work through relaxing her alert system with reflex integration exercises, even her teachers noticed the newfound comfort in her own skin.
Moro, the startle reflex, is the more well-known of the defensive reflexes. Comprised of two integral parts, known often as ‘fling’ followed by ‘cling’, this reflex forms the foundation for our ability to mobilize to protect us from danger.
Known as the withdrawal reflex, Fear Paralysis is responsible for the body’s ability to immobilize, or freeze, for self-protection when one’s nervous system is threatened. Notably, the action of being immobile is just as critical to development as the early stages of mobilization in the body.
As a professional, I’m not trying to do it all but I am trying to make a difference with my work. I’m priming the nervous system to create a foundation, so that the child or adult is able to gain what they need from other therapies, or blast into areas of development. I can’t take away the stressors in life, but I can continue to help people build a stronger and stronger foundation, so they are more resilient and able to handle all of those stressors.
Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year, where daylight hours are fleeting and we become even more aware of light’s important role in regulating our circadian ‘clock’. Our circadian rhythms are not only responsible for guiding our sleep-wake cycle but also impact our body’s immune system, hormonal balance, cellular repair and overall cognition.
We’re pleased to introduce Keri Teague, MA, OTR/L at Thrive. A teacher, a parent, and newly, as an added resource working with clients at Thrive, Keri has been able to help her clients unlock the tools to understand and manage behavioral outcomes proactively. Her interest in the connections between sensory integration work and primitive reflexes led her to Thrive.
