1. An Introduction to Self-Reg, Part 2
Dr. Susan Hopkins, Ed.D.
Executive Director, The MEHRIT Centre
Lead Researcher, Self Regulation Institute
@self_reg @susanhopkins5
self-reg.ca selfregulationinstitute.org

2. 3 Key Take-Aways for Today
1. Self-regulation vs. self-control
2. The 5 Steps of Shanker Self-Reg
3. Your Self-Reg matters too!

3. What is Self-Reg?
Shanker Self-Reg is a powerful method for understanding stress and managing tension and energy. 

5. KEY TO BREAKING A STRESS CYCLE IS 5 Steps of SELF-REG
What is a Stress Cycle
Stress system becomes dysregulated
Normal braking functions necessary for R&R are impaired
KEY TO BREAKING A STRESS CYCLE IS 5 Steps of SELF-REG

6. Multiplier Effect Stressors interact and exacerbate
Stress-reactivity escalates
Effect on stress thresholds
ALWAYS NEED TO ADDRESS ALL FIVE DOMAINS

8. The Interbrain and Stress Cycles
Harsh, punitive, or judgmental responses fuel stress cycles
Similarly, withdrawal leaves a child struggling to cope with stress cycle on his or her own
To break a stress cycle, the connection has to be right-brain to right-brain, limbic to limbic

9. Four Types of Self-Reg Journeys

10. Shanker Self-Reg 5 interelated and ongoing steps
Reframe the behaviour
Recognize the stressors (ALL 5 domains)
Reduce the stress (load)
Reflect: Enhance Stress-Awareness
Respond: with strategies reduce tension, restore energy, develop resilience

13. Four Signs of Allostatic Overload
“0-500” reaction in an instant
Over reaction to situation
Unusually long time to cool off
Volatile / Emotional lability

14. Red Brain Teaching Moments & how to look at these with soft eyes:
1. Yelling
2. Threats we don’t mean
3. Humiliating students
4. Losing our temper
5. Bribing
6. Feeling Guilt for how we responded

15. Adult Self-Reg Reflecting
Dysregulated
And Dysregulating?
Or Regulated
And Regulating?

16. Step 2: Recognize the Stressors
Hitting the “pause button” and asking, “Why am I seeing this behaviour?” and “Why am I seeing it now?”
The 5 domains where stress and dysregulation can occur
Common stressors in each domain
“hidden” stressors
The impact of stress on functioning, mood, learning and behaviour.

17. 5 Domains: Stressors
Biological
Noises, crowds, visual overstimulation, not enough exercise, lack of sleep, sugar, junk food
Emotion
Cognitive
Social
Prosocial
Difficulty coping with strong emotions, both positive (over-excited) & negative (anger, fear)
Difficulty processing certain kinds of information
Difficulty picking up on social cues, or understanding effect of behaviour on others
Difficulty coping with other people’s stress;
sense of injustice

18. Energy Zappers (sometimes for some !)
Bright lights
Dim lights
Noise
Quiet
Visual noise
Sugar
Junk food
Salt
Sitting still
Fingernails on a chalkboard
Disappointment
Embarrassment
Worry
Sad stories
Injustice
Being late
Waiting
Crowds
Guilt
Food allergies
Allergies
Grief
Asthma
Reverberation
Bright colours
Social
Textures
Tags in your clothing

21. Step 3: Reduce the Stress (Load)
Strategies for reducing stressors in all 5 domains
Distinguishing between adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies.
Changing environments to reduce hidden stressors
Creating microenvironments and employing strategies that aid stress recovery, downregulating or upregulating as needed.

24. Step 4: Reflect & Enhance Stress Awareness
The importance of understanding one’s inner state:
Recognizing tension and energy levels
Recognizing what calm feels like
Recognizing how you feel when you are stressed

27. Step 5: Respond with Personal Strategies for restoration & resilience
Understand the difference between responding with strategies for restoration & resilience & step 3 (reducing the stress load)
Figuring out what helps you reduce tension and raise energy

28. Take Some “YOU TIME” Y: YOU decide how you want to spend your YOU TIME
YOU TIME is crucial for all of us. Think about the Triune brain. Which part of your brain is "running the show" right now? Hopefully, it's the 'blue brain', but if you are feeling the signs of stress in your brain-body in any way then 'red brain' is involved. So let's restore a little energy.  
Y:  YOU decide how you want to spend your YOU TIME
O:  Organize this time so that it's 100% for you.
U:  Unplug technology.
T:  Tension released (even just a little). 
I: Individual needs, personal ways to restore
M: Be Mindful of what comes up during your YOU TIME.
E:  Energy tank filled up (even just a little).

30. 3 Goals of Our Self-Reg Session
1. Learn the difference between self-regulation and self control. SELF-REGULATION COMES FIRST.
2. Confirm just how much you already know about self-regulation AS THE EXPERTS OBSERVERS SEEING BENEATH THE BEHAVIOURS & ASKING WHY & WHY NOW.
3. Explore why our stress and our ability to self-regulate is so important. WE MATTER TOO!

31. Books by Dr. Stuart Shanker

32. To support your initiative or capacity building
TMC Offerings
To support your initiative or capacity building
Our Foundations Program is a four- course designed and delivered by Dr. Stuart Shanker, which leads to a certification in Shanker-Self Reg.
Self-Reg Portal Plus is our online community for people interested in exploring Shanker Self-Reg.
The Self-Reg Parent Portal is a moderated online community for parents interested in exploring The Shanker Method.