Impaired brain
C3 De-escalation® targets a breakdown in the brain. Stress or anger– i.e. “losing it”– causes a physical short-circuit. Brain sections that handle self-restraint, reason and consequences essentially disconnect. This can result in outbursts of aggression, agitation or reckless behavior.
We’ve all experienced this to some degree. However, someone with mental health or addiction issues is more vulnerable, often with worse consequences.
C3 provides three groups of techniques to help the brain calm down and stabilize:
Calm:
Stress chemicals trigger the short-circuit. C3 provides ways to lower the stress chemicals, giving circuits a chance to re-connect.
Example: Any large muscle action drops adrenaline. For instance, if you walk someone around or walk them up a flight of stairs, you’ll find they’re less agitated and less aggressive at the top of the stairs than at the bottom. It’s that fast. Just be sure they’re safe to walk up a flight of stairs.
Circuit:
Since parts of the brain disconnect, C3 provides ways to cue disconnected parts and jump-start the circuit.
Example: One disconnected part puts things into order. So ask simple sequence questions: “What happened first?” Then, “What happened next?” Other simple sequences are asking for an address or having them spell their own name. As you step them through the sequence, you’ll hear their voices calm down and their agitation lessen.
Connection:
Typically there’s a lead time before the actual explosion. If we notice the signs and intervene wisely, we can stop the explosion before it happens. C3 shows how to connect the dots: spot the pattern, head off the eruption.
Example: People prone to explosions can even learn to de-escalate themselves. Programs include The Virtual Tranquilizer for Veterans, sponsored by the Illinois National Guard. You can read more about the veteran program here.
Source: Arnsten, Amy F.T. “Stress Signaling Pathways that Impair Prefrontal Cortex Structure and Function.” Nature Reviews Neuroscience 10, 410–422 (1 June 2009)