The Imperative to Protect Children from Survival Mode Syndrome

By Teri Smith-Pickens

The most significant take away from my book The Irrational Fear Cure is the imperative to protect future generations of children from living permanently in the fear-based system of Survival Mode.

Besides Survival Mode Syndrome’s symptoms of chronic anxiety, mood instability, poor self-esteem, memory deficits, poor sleep habits, issues with trust and faith, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, etc., these children will not only learn habits to keep chronic anxiety at bay but living in this Mode will wreak the most havoc on their health. Over time, they will develop the highest number of cases of allergies, cancer or autoimmune illnesses, due to the stress created by the brain and the body always needing to respond to a sense of “danger” that is irrational. This wreaks havoc on the body’s immune system, is a deadly enemy to achieving success, and causes Spiritual paralysis.

Today most adults use the term “Survival Mode” loosely, concluding that something is wrong with their thinking and their behavior, especially, the part that is fear-based. However, the process of entry into Survival Mode starts soon after birth with the young child’s under-developed brain where they do not have the capacity to understand the context of most of the things that happen to them. Things like corporal punishment, being exposed to media and other adult rated issues, sex abuse, the threats of siblings, parents yelling or being impatient when stressed when the child misbehaves, etc.

During this early period of childhood, many of children’s day-to-day experiences are interpreted by their “primitive” brain as potentially dangerous – even ones that are not! This is why they need adult intervention to PREVENT their primitive brain from becoming frozen in a “protective posture” even when there is NO imminent threat or danger.

The term “irrational” describes feeling fear and experiencing the physical and psychological responses to it but there is no imminent threat, no real danger. This can result in the child entering and staying permanently in Survival Mode, having all the symptoms of Survival Mode Syndrome.

Why the children? Take a look at the increased incidences of school-aged children having ADHD, ADD, chronic anxiety, behavior issues, and being prescribed medication. About 80 percent of children who need medication for ADHD still need it as teenagers.

Estimates on the number of children diagnosed with ADHD in the U.S. have changed over the years. Per a 2014 CDC study:

In 2003, 7.8 percent of children were ever diagnosed with ADHD

In 2007: 9.5 percent

In 2011: 11 percent

Related conditions:

Nearly two thirds of children with ADHD have at least one other condition.
51.5 percent of children with ADHD have behavioral or conduct problems
32.7 percent have anxiety problems
16.8 percent have depression
13.7 percent have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
1.2 percent have Tourette syndrome
About 45 percent have a learning disorder
Children with ADHD are 12 times more likely to have Loss of Control Eating Syndrome (LOC-ES), a type of eating disorder similar to binge eating disorder in adults.

This is because they were not protected from their primal fears which caused their brain to be frozen in a protective posture and remain in Survival Mode. They grow up but ADHD and other symptoms continue to define Survival Mode Syndrome.

Adult ADHD diagnosis rates are also rising. ADHD diagnoses among adults are growing four times faster than are ADHD diagnoses among children in the United States (26.4 percent increase among children compared to 123.3 percent among adults).

Today’s society is exploring “mindfulness” to counter the above symptoms as an initiative in early school but that is just a band-aid. Instead, the best solution is prevention.

Protect children from the experiences of their primal brain during the formative years.

Teri Smith-Pickens is an award-winning and best-selling author and speaker, in addition to her work as a mental health practitioner and coach. She has inspired and transformed many lives through her coaching, speaking and media appearances. In 2007, Teri had a supernatural revelation that changed the course of her life, giving her unerring courage to confront important, controversial mental health issues in children’s lives and the society at large, giving birth to her book, The Fear Cure in Four Miraculous Steps.