Today we’re diving deep into the interconnectedness of the brain, mind, and body, and the lasting impact this has from childhood through adult life. We’ll explore how factors like stress and the environment shape the developing brains of our young ones, and why understanding brain mapping and neurological assessments can be pivotal for a child’s emotional regulation and handling of stress. For our adult listeners, we’re discussing the transformative power of neurofeedback in addressing anxiety, depression, and neurological dysregulations, and how it can complement medication to improve brain function and peak performance. And let’s not forget the importance of repetition—crucial for making those lasting changes in our brain, especially when combatting the long-term effects of chronic pain. Whether you’re a mother concerned about your child’s development or an adult looking to optimize your brain health, Connect My Brain is here to guide and support you through this journey. We’re in this together, fully committed to helping you and your loved ones unlock the full potential of your brain’s health and development. Show Notes: https://www.connectmybrain.com/the-triangle-of-development-understanding-chronic-pain-and-the-brain/

We are born fully formed but not fully functioning. In the first weeks, months, and years of life, there are tons of events happening in our bodies and brains as we grow and develop. These events are all interconnected and a lack of timely and proper development in one area of our bodies can have a significant impact on development in other areas. The good news is, that we can actually identify where interruptions have occurred and move forward, allowing children to get their childhood back. Show Notes: https://www.connectmybrain.com/common-interruptions-in-childhood-developmental-milestones/

Today I’m interviewing my friend Kelly Haner who will share with us the unique perspective of what it’s like to be a parent in the midst of working with a number of healthcare professionals to ensure the best outcome for her child. Before her son was born 15 years ago, Kelly had no idea that collaborative healthcare even existed, but after he was born and diagnosed with cerebral palsy, she found herself in conversations with a variety of practitioners. Kelly had to take the information from various experts, who sometimes shared conflicting information, and then apply that to her son’s life and trust that at the end of the day, she was her son’s biggest advocate and had to decide the best course of action for his treatment and care. Kelly actually quit her full-time job in order to have the time and energy to research, ask questions, and advocate for her son’s best interests. After her son’s diagnosis, Kelly was introduced to the world of essential oils, and after doing her own research, found them to be an incredible complementary healthcare approach. In this episode, Kelly talks about the role of a parent in collaborative healthcare and shares about using essential oils, how they work, and what to look for when purchasing your own oils. Show Notes: https://www.connectmybrain.com/the-role-of-a-parent-in-collaborative-health-with-essential-oils-expert-kelly-haner/

I talk about learning challenges in a more general sense and focus on cognitive flexibility, motivation, and how the lockdowns of 2020 are still affecting our kids today, much more than you might think. Although I’m sure many of us would rather forget the events of 2020 and the years following, we need to realize that these events changed our kids. Sure, the labels and diagnoses that we talked about in the past few episodes existed before the pandemic started, but these diagnoses are continuing to climb and we would be naive to think that the effects of the lockdowns on our kids are all in the past. This episode will have a strong focus on the far-reaching influence of the 2020 lockdowns, but I also talk about how motivation develops, how technologys is deeply influencing our children’s brains and behaviours, and where to start if you see your child struggling in school. Show Notes: https://www.connectmybrain.com/the-connection-between-lockdowns-learning-struggles-cognitive-flexibility-and-motivation/