Understanding Our Emotions_ Social-Emotional Intelligence & The Nervous System.pdf

Understanding Our Emotions_ Social-Emotional Intelligence & The Nervous System.pdf

1. Understanding Our Emotions: Social-Emotional Intelligence &
The Nervous System

2. What is Social-Emotional Intelligence?
●Social-emotional intelligence is your ability to understand and
manage your emotions
●It helps you recognize how others are feeling and respond
appropriately
●Think of it as your "emotional superpower" that helps you
navigate relationships
●How would you rate your emotional awareness on a scale of
1-10?

3. Your Amazing Nervous System
●Your body has an internal "control center" called the autonomic
nervous system
●It manages your heart rate, breathing, and stress responses
●This system works automatically - you don't have to think about
it
●Can you feel your heart beating right now?

4. Meeting Your "Safety System": The Polyvagal Theory
●Polyvagal theory explains how your body responds to feeling
safe or unsafe
●Your vagus nerve is like an internal "safety detector"
●It has three main response modes: social engagement,
fight/flight, or shutdown
●When did you last feel completely safe and relaxed?

5. The "Social Engagement" Mode
●This is your calm, connected state
●You feel safe to interact with others
●Your voice is friendly and your face is expressive
●Your heart rate is steady and you can think clearly

6. The "Fight or Flight" Response
●This activates when you sense danger
●Your heart beats faster and you might feel anxious
●You might want to run away or defend yourself
●What situations make you feel this way?

7. The "Shutdown" Mode
●This is your body's last-resort protection
●You might feel frozen or disconnected
●Your energy levels drop and you may want to hide
●Remember: This is a normal response to feeling overwhelmed

8. Building Your Emotional Toolkit
●Deep breathing helps activate your "calm" system
●Regular exercise supports emotional balance
●Connecting with trusted friends creates safety
●What strategies help you feel calm?

9. Putting It All Together
●Understanding your emotions helps you respond better to stress
●You can learn to recognize your nervous system states
●Practice self-care and reaching out for support
●Remember: All your feelings are valid and normal