Finding Calm in the Storm

Hank was a passionate baby, his mother lovingly recalls. His laugh was infectious and when he was happy, he was a boisterous and playful little child. When he was angry, though, he was more than mad. There was truly no middle ground as Hank struggled with emotional regulation.

Hank’s inconsolable tantrums started around age two. He rejected hugs, threw toys and more often than not, wound up hitting his body against a wall or the side of his crib. He would lash out with biting. Hours long jags got so bad that his parents had to pad his crib.

“We had a hard time keeping him safe,” said Hank’s mother of his frightening moments of self-harm. “Anything we did would only agitate him more.”

As time went on, his reactions impacted his sleep. Hank would often wake with night terrors. He would require earphones to tolerate the sound of the espresso maker in the morning, as distress extended from night back into day.

Hank’s mother, an Occupational Therapist, tried every sensory processing strategy she knew without progress. When an outpatient OT working with Hank explored retained reflexes, they saw simple exercises prove challenging and, in his frustration, further dysregulating. That’s when the family knew they needed a specialist like Elizabeth.

“She was so helpful explaining the science behind all of the reflexes, and even some things we could start doing at home,” she says of a phone call with Elizabeth while Hank was on the waitlist for his full evaluation. The family was eager to dig in.

Once Hank began his weekly sessions, it was clear that he was living with an extremely active Fear Paralysis and Moro. His need to smash his mouth or bite was an attempt at oral self-soothing, something he struggled with since losing his pacifier. Elizabeth led Hank slowly through the work, recognizing his Moro required a gentle path toward safety. Within the first week of work, Hank’s meltdowns went from nine or more a day to only a few a week. He slept through the night almost immediately after the evaluation. 

Most significantly, Hank was not biting nor was he hurting himself physically while upset. He was starting to process his emotions, name them and begin the path to regulation. His mother recalls a day not too far into the sessions when she looked down from the same espresso machine and saw her son, without headphones and within inches of the noisy machine. He looked up and asked, mommy, are you making your coffee? The moment was so special for the progress it meant for them both.

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Rooted in the Earth

Grounding is a purposeful practice within yoga that supports our feeling of stability, or rooting, to the Earth. Grounding poses include any position where we connect our body to the ground below. Warrior II or even the simple standing Mountain Pose, for example, offer two powerful opportunities for our feet to touch the earth and our minds to feel secure and centered. 

When grounding, we send energy downward, putting pressure on the soles of our feet from our heels to our toe pads. We might imagine growing deep roots, as if we’re a tree.  In yoga, we wiggle our toes to feel them as distinct and we stand tall in the energetic connection to the Earth. In Child’s Pose or even in Downward Dog, we spread our fingers wide and channel that energy downward through our palms.  In a sense, we’re employing our reflexes in our hands and feet to create these grounding sensations. It’s the curling and extending movements that enable us to channel that energy, while at the same time feeling safe in our own bodies in the present.

We often hear about chakras from yogis as well. The root chakra, located at the base of the spine, is thought to be aligned to our sense of safety and stability. It brings to mind how our symphony of reflexes works together to create our sense of connection and place in the world. 

When we practice exercises in a Thrive session, we’re building upon our earliest reflex movements to support a greater sense of our awareness of our bodies and their capabilities. Just as yoga encourages presence of mind, I encourage my clients to be aware of how they feel as they move. I’m supporting the feeling of being grounded, of knowing yourself and your unique and special place in this world.

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Babinski Reflex

Babinski, like Babkin, is another reflex that rounds out our grasping reflex integration. Complimentary to the Palmar Grasp Reflex where toes curl, Babinski teaches the toes to stretch and the foot to turn slightly inward when the outer side of the foot is stroked. The ability for our feet to flex and extend, as well as turn in and out, helps us push off the ground as we learn to crawl on bellies, knees and eventually walk. 

Related to posture, this reflex provides a sense of safety and stability navigating the world around us. The two work to support upright movement and, if immature, may result in poor balance and difficulties in walking. Without full integration, children may demonstrate physical challenges, from toe walking to stiff or sore legs. Delayed development of foot reflexes results in poor motor planning and a tendency to trip or fall. 

The connections between our reflexes span our entire body and Babinski is a reminder of those linkages. We have a fascial chain that runs from our big toe to our tongue, connecting our feet with our mouths. The relationship between the two parts is evident in our earliest reflexes, when infants babble and wiggle their toes simultaneously. When we encounter speech and articulation challenges in development, there is almost always a linkage to the foot.

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No Longer Frozen

“Here I stand, and here I’ll stay. The cold never bothered me anyway…”

Sound familiar? The global phenomenon and power ballad from Disney’s 2013 hit Frozentells a powerful tale of a princess learning to accept her past and her powers, letting go of her fear and finding empowerment through self-acceptance. Living authentically is a wonderful theme to introduce to children, yet possible only when a sense of security enables that confidence. 

Consider this lyrical verse: “Conceal, don’t feel. Don’t let them know…”. At the beginning of the movie and the song, Elsa describes a life where she was afraid to act. She hesitated to reveal her capabilities or to even connect with her family. This is actually fear paralysis at work. In her resistance, she’s showing a strong desire to withdraw. Thinking about our Babkin reflex, the ability to truly let go from our embrace (our cling of Moro) is not present. When our defensive reflexes are active, it is hard to feel safe in our connections to others and the world around us. 
 

The song “Let It Go” plays such an important role in the Disney movie, capturing Elsa’s character development from moments of isolation to soaring anthems that can’t help but make viewers cheer. As part of our therapeutic practice at Thrive, we involve our clients in a journey of knowing themselves from the inside out. We foster agency by allowing choices where they make sense. Clients decide their movement plan within the parameters that fit their needs. Through a greater self-awareness comes the ability to regulate feelings, find self-acceptance and a healthy release. Let it Go!

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Finding His Voice

Even when Charlie finally broke ground, suddenly speaking dozens of words over the course of a week, his progress would be a rollercoaster of tremendous gains and long plateaus. His parents watched as his developmental progressions always brought him back to a place of silent anxiety and frustration. When he entered school, Charlie would gnaw on everything that he could find. He chewed pens, crayons, even puzzle pieces. He was constantly putting objects in his mouth.

Charlie’s parents sought resources without success. They visited multiple doctors and therapists and no one could offer insight into Charlie’s challenges. Then, the family was introduced to Thrive Therapy. 

Elizabeth explained that we explore the world as a newborn using our mouth to assess and learn, gaining safety along the way. Root/ Suck, one of our grasping reflexes, teaches the tongue through early movement that eventually assists in proper articulation. 

For Charlie, his fear paralysis was still active, which among other forms of withdrawal can cause a shutdown of the larynx. He was unable to draw upon his voice to express himself. Oftentimes, we see babies rely on pacifiers as a behavior that soothes the parasympathetic nervous system in times of distress. Charlie was mouthing throughout the day in an effort to calm himself. 

Elizabeth worked with Charlie in sessions supporting the integration of his defensive reflexes. By helping to bring in the parasympathetic nervous system, the limbic system can approach calm. Charlie’s parents even attended one of Elizabeth’s workshops to learn the foundations for rhythmic movement therapy so they might reinforce his movements at home. 

Recently, Charlie’s gym teacher met with his parents. He was amazed by the changes in Charlie’s patience, attentiveness and most of all, his ability to express himself. When a new skill was introduced, Charlie stepped back before thoughtfully approaching the teacher. He explained that he didn’t quite understand the technique and he wanted to learn more in order to join in. He was asking for help. He was using his voice to participate in his world and he was loving it. 

Charlie adores the adventure of travel and embraces new things with curiosity. Today, he’s asking his mom to sign up for afterschool STEAM programs, swimming and running. He’s approaching new things with confidence.

A child’s speech and language development may be impacted when primitive grasping reflexes remain active, especially those related to the mouth like Root/Suck. Defensive reflexes and fear paralysis in particular may contribute to selective mutism and feeling a lack of safety and security. 

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Forming Connections

As connections to the higher parts of the brain form, pathways are established and reinforced. The cerebellum, home to nearly 70% of those neurons, plays a role in organizing those early primitive movements upwards from the brain stem. The better we build on these connections, the more we gain control over our movement. By encouraging exploration through practice, we’re helping children to learn coordination in their movement. Higher connections, like those to the prefrontal cortex and basal ganglia, come later, enabling us to act with more focus and consistency. 

The structures that make up our brain never work in isolation and it’s important to create strong connections that reinforce how each work together. Poor connections to parts of our brain may result in aggressive behavior or the inability to process sensory information effectively. Speech and language, as well the ability to maintain focus and attention, are two areas that are also highly reliant on neural linkages.

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Our Babkin Reflex

Have you ever noticed a child deep in concentration, their tongue sticking out as they write their letters? Tongue thrusting and drooling may be early physical signs of a retained Babkin Reflex. Habitual hoarders, those adults who struggle with letting go of possessions big and small, are demonstrating an immature Babkin reflex, which impacts the ability to release, relax and feel comfortable through bonding and secure relationships.

The Babkin Reflex appears during the first few months of infancy in concert with early grasping reflexes. When pressure is applied to the palm of the hand, the mouth will open and the head flexes forward slightly. To a lesser degree, this opening shows up in a similar way with pressure to other parts of the body, including the forearms and upper arms as well as the lower limbs. The Babkin reflex works alongside the Palmar Grasp, Infant Plantar and Root/Suck reflexes to establish a feeling of healthy attachment. The hand and mouth movement in tandem, for example, demonstrates a safe release from clinging to the mother as the infant feeds. The feeling of letting go coincides with a sense of security which then leads to the ability to confidently explore the world.

This reflex has an important role in helping the second stage of Moro to fully integrate, as the hands, mouth and feet open and transition out of the embrace of cling. A unifying reflex that allows for higher level bonding, the integration of the Babkin Reflex is vital to establishing trust.  It is often said that the relationship between the mother and child forms the foundation for future connections, which begins in those vital moments following childbirth. The Babkin Reflex enables our ability to interact with the world and build healthy relationships from a position of stability. When the reflex remains, socialization challenges may emerge later in life.

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In the Palm of our Hands

The Infant Palmar reflex is an early grasping reflex where the fingers of an infant curl inward when the inside of the hand is touched. This reflex is closely associated with the Moro’s cling stage, helping find calm through embrace. Infants often hold tight not only to adult fingers but beloved objects to self-sooth. The hands also open and close as an infant’s suck reflex activates, demonstrating a close connection between grasping and our developing articulation and connection with others. Our hands have the power to send signals of safety and security to our brain through their grasping movement. 

Squeezing a soft, pliable ball may be a temporary outlet for nervous energy, the repetitive sensory distraction a helpful resource during brief moments of stress. Fidget spinners emerged as another small, portable device for those dealing with anxiety, ADHD and some autism disorders by providing a focal point along with the pleasing sensory experience. The idea behind calming strips is similar, redirecting focus with new sensory input designed to stimulate nerve endings on the fingers that in turn sends calming signals to the brain. 

While these resources may offer effective soothing tactics for the short-term management of social and emotional challenges, it’s important to identify and work on the root causes for behavioral patterns. At Thrive Therapy, our ultimate goal is always to empower our clients to understand themselves better and unlock practices that not only manage but reinforce positive development. By practicing rhythmic movements that support connections to the brain, we’re training our bodies to deal with stress from within.

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The Power of a Hug

Oxytocin is produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. As not only a hormone but a neurotransmitter, it’s released by electric signals from parts of our body back and forth to our brain. As one of the few hormones that function off a positive feedback loop, the release of oxytocin stimulates even more to be released from the pituitary gland. Oxytocin has an important physical function in the labor process, as the baby’s downward pressure initiates oxytocin-induced contractions that aid in childbirth. The hormone is also responsible for lactation, signaling the release of milk when an infant begins to suck.
 

The “love hormone” is commonly associated with positive emotions, supporting healthy social interactions in a number of ways. Oxytocin in released with physical touch like hugging and cuddling, which in turn triggers feelings of attraction and attachment. When a parent offers a newborn skin to skin contact, the release of oxytocin triggers powerful feelings of attachment and that bond tell the infant she is safe. Oxytocin has an important behavioral role, helping us build trust through recognition and contributing to our ability to make safe, healthy connections with others. 
 

When we think of our friend Roxy the Sloth and the cling stage of the Moro reflex, we’re reminded that oxytocin helps balance the stress-induced hormone cortisol with calming regulation. It is released as part of relaxation response mechanisms from the parasympathetic nervous system. The feeling of stability and support associated with this oxytocin may also play a role in lowering anxiety and other social and emotional challenges. 

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Palmar and Infant Plantar Grasp

A child walks on his toes. A young boy shakes his hand and throws his pencil down, exhausted and frustrated by the exercise of writing letters at school. For older children, it may become hard to enter a conversation with a group friends, choosing observation or isolation rather than navigating a complex social situation. Shifts in routine may be hard for others, finding challenge in unpredictable outcomes. These emotional and physical manifestations are the result of immature grasping reflexes and represent how closely our sense of security is linked with the reflexes around one’s mouth, hands and feet.

The Palmar Grasp reflex integrates during the first year after birth and is thought to be part of early evolutionary development that enables some mammals to cling or grasp on to their mother early in life. The hands and mouth both play a significant role in the baby’s earliest exploration of the world around her. When the inner pads of the fingers or palm are stimulated, fingers curl inward. Oftentimes you’ll see infants grasp tightly to an adult’s finger when placed in their outstretched palm. 

If the reflex remains active, it may impact fine motor skills, muscle tone development and may lead to speech and articulation challenges. Young children often demonstrate a lingering reflex by needing to clutch a beloved toy or object in their hand as they move through their day. A retained Palmer Grasp reflex may result in tightly clenched fists as well, placing tension on the body overall and particularly upward toward the TMJ area. The Palmer Reflex plays a role in the development of facial expressions in directly as well. 

Similar to Palmar Grasp, the Infant Plantar reflex involves curling inward of the toes, and may also demonstrate evidence of early evolutionary cling. This reflex calls upon the longest neurons in the body, traveling down from the brain to the feet and toes. The toes curl in response to pressure applied to the ball of the foot. The reflex gradually integrates with the development of more complex foot movements as an infant’s toes begin to dig into the ground and develop through early crawling stages. These movements prepare the body to stand upright, navigating the world with increasing stability, balance and coordination. 

When the Infant Plantar is retained, there may be challenges moving through stages of crawling to walking. Later in life, challenges with running, jumping and overall balance may occur. This may manifest in stiff legs and sore shins. Children that lead with ‘toe walking’ may also have active Plantar reflexes.

Studies have also shown the relationship between grasping reflexes and language, a concept we’ll explore in a later blog post. Infants open their mouths and babble as toes wiggle, and palms often open and close when the Sucking reflex is at work. Active grasping reflexes may result in delayed speech development as a direct connection.

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