Why we act the way we do!
In this video, I explain, in my own words, all about the arousal continuum and the different states we are all in 24 hours a day. This is a concept by Dr. Bruce Perry and something I share with every single one of my clients. It is so important to work with the brain and understand why we might act the way we do at any given time.
For more information on Dr. Bruce Perry check out these links:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf4ZUgIXyxRcUNLuhimA5mA
Go here to print out a gingerbread outline to map out how your body feels in each state:https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/assets/media/images/free_resources/teachers_corner/projects/gingerbreadMan.pdf
Summary of Video:
In this educational Facebook Live, therapist Addie Wieland, LCSW and founder of Everyday Bravery Counseling, offers a clear and compassionate introduction to the Arousal Continuum, a brain-based framework developed by renowned trauma psychiatrist Dr. Bruce Perry. Addie, who is trained in Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics, explains how this model helps clients better understand their emotional and physiological responses, particularly in the context of trauma, anxiety, and depression.
The Arousal Continuum outlines five brain-body states we cycle through: Calm, Alert, Alarm, Fear, and Terror. These states affect how much access we have to different parts of the brain—especially the neocortex, the front part responsible for abstract thinking, decision-making, communication, and impulse control.
In a Calm state (often experienced in safe environments like the shower or bedroom), we think clearly and access our full cognitive abilities.
In Alert, we remain functional and task-focused, though our thinking becomes more concrete.
As we move into Alarm, Fear, or Terror, the brain shifts away from logic and into survival mode. Our limbic system and brainstem take over, and we may react emotionally, impulsively, or shut down altogether.
Addie emphasizes that while we can move up the continuum in seconds, it often takes far longer to come back down—especially for individuals with a trauma history. She explains that people with unresolved trauma may live in chronic states of Alarm or Fear, making it difficult to access calm or feel truly safe, even in non-threatening situations.
A key takeaway is that reasoning doesn’t work when someone is in a fear or terror state—whether it's with ourselves or someone else. That’s because the logical brain is offline in those moments. Instead of trying to “talk ourselves down,” Addie recommends learning regulation techniques, which she’ll explore in future videos.
To build awareness, she suggests using a simple “gingerbread figure” body map to visualize how each state feels in the body. Noticing physical cues—like muscle tension, heart rate, or dissociation—can help us recognize where we are on the continuum and what we might need to come back to calm.
Addie closes by stressing the importance of working with the brain, not against it—and how trauma-informed strategies can gently help the nervous system reset and relearn safety. She invites viewers to follow Dr. Bruce Perry’s work and stay tuned for her next video on regulation strategies.
