Wellbeing Team
Proactively responding the mental health needs of our students
The Magic of Sour Lollies
Did you know sour lollies can help with dysregulation? While I don't reccommend them when a student is having an escalation in behaviour they are my secret weapon for anxiety and panic for those able to make a choice in the moment- you'll often see them on a therapist's desk for nervous clients.
Why do they work to promote calm? When a panicked person's fight or flight response is triggered by our Amygdala, our Sympathetic Nervous System is activated and tells our body to take action. Normally, our Parasympatheic Nervous System would support us to calm and rest after the perceived threat has passed, but it can take longer to activate if you're anxious and may require a bit of extra help. This is when we might think to grab an icy pole or sour lolly.
Why does this help? First off, it's a grounding technique. Something cold or sour forces our brains to focus on that taste and feeling, bringing us out of the anxiety spiral. Noticing the taste, the feeling of chewing, and the level of sour is as good of a grounding activity as deep breathing. The intense taste can distract you from the stimuli of the moment and help one take a beat to process what is going on on. Even the saliva generated from chewing on sour candy can help avtivate the Parasympathetic Nervous System directing us back to calm!
Is this a long term fix? Absolutely not! Anxiety and panic usually require a lot of support whether it's counselling or a chat with your GP. But in a pinch? Grab that sour worm or pack of War Heads!
-Stacie
Available Support Services
EAP
A free and short term service delivered for the DE through an independent provider. It is strictly confidential and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Department of Education employees and immediate family members 18+ years. You can get up to 4 free sessions about personal or work related issues.
1300 361 008
Beyond Blue
This is a free 24/7 telephone and online counselling service available for everyone in Australia.
1300 224 636
Discussion with GP and development of a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)
Book a ‘longer’ appointment with your GP to discuss the option to develop a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
For information about MHTPs please use the link or QR code below.
If you would like any more information regarding some available support services, please reach out to the Wellbeing Team.