Photo: Anna Shvets

Is everyday stress toxic?

Extensive research on the biology of stress now shows that healthy development can be derailed by excessive or prolonged activation of stress response systems in the body and brain. Such toxic stress can have damaging effects on learning, behavior, and health across the lifespan.

developingchild.harvard.edu - Toxic Stress

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Learning how to cope with adversity is an important part of healthy child development. When we are threatened, our bodies prepare us to respond by increasing our heart rate, blood pressure, and stress hormones, such as cortisol. When a young child’s stress response systems are activated within an environment of supportive relationships with adults, these physiological effects are buffered and brought back down to baseline. The result is the development of healthy stress response systems. However, if the stress response is extreme and long-lasting, and buffering relationships are unavailable to the child, the result can be damaged, weakened systems and brain architecture, with lifelong repercussions. It’s important to distinguish among three kinds of responses to stress: positive, tolerable, and toxic. As described below, these three terms refer to the stress response systems’ effects on the body, not to the stressful event or experience itself: Positive stress response is a normal and essential part of healthy development, characterized by brief increases in heart rate and mild elevations in hormone levels. Some situations that might trigger a positive stress response are the first day with a new caregiver or receiving an injected immunization. is a normal and essential part of healthy development, characterized by brief increases in heart rate and mild elevations in hormone levels. Some situations that might trigger a positive stress response are the first day with a new caregiver or receiving an injected immunization. Tolerable stress response activates the body’s alert systems to a greater degree as a result of more severe, longer-lasting difficulties, such as the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster, or a frightening injury. If the activation is time-limited and buffered by relationships with adults who help the child adapt, the brain and other organs recover from what might otherwise be damaging effects. activates the body’s alert systems to a greater degree as a result of more severe, longer-lasting difficulties, such as the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster, or a frightening injury. If the activation is time-limited and buffered by relationships with adults who help the child adapt, the brain and other organs recover from what might otherwise be damaging effects. Toxic stress response can occur when a child experiences strong, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity—such as physical or emotional abuse, chronic neglect, caregiver substance abuse or mental illness, exposure to violence, and/or the accumulated burdens of family economic hardship—without adequate adult support. This kind of prolonged activation of the stress response systems can disrupt the development of brain architecture and other organ systems, and increase the risk for stress-related disease and cognitive impairment, well into the adult years. When toxic stress response occurs continually, or is triggered by multiple sources, it can have a cumulative toll on an individual’s physical and mental health—for a lifetime. The more adverse experiences in childhood, the greater the likelihood of developmental delays and later health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression. Research also indicates that supportive, responsive relationships with caring adults as early in life as possible can prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress response.

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Is one day at a time ok for a 12 year old?

I highly recommend even for kids 12 and up!

commonsensemedia.org - Parent reviews for One Day at a Time | Common Sense Media

7th and 8th graders should have already had "the talk" at home and in school and should be able to handle and understand the topics. A lot of my students have already dealt with parents with addiction and this show openly discusses the subject and the struggles involved which makes them understand the issue even more. So there's a few swears; so what? That's how some people talk and worse. I personally don't and neither do my kids but they heard plenty of swears growing up. For young teens, this show will make them laugh, cry and perhaps become better; more understanding of others, more empathetic. They will learn about Cuba's culture and how festive, religious, and controlling a Hispanic abuela is! And everybody should know that Rita Moreno who portrays the abuela is an iconic legend from Puerto Rico. I highly suggest reading her bio online - a fascinating life! One of her biggest accomplishments is that she became the first (and only?) Hispanic to have won an Emmy, a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a Tony. Rita Moreno IS the show and she is hilarious. I highly recommend it!

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