How Brain Development Affects Emotional Development

What makes us who we are? It is our self-esteem, personality, and self-worth. Of course, we may characterize all that as who John or Mary Is. But with that, we also are born with innate personality traits, such as a person who is introverted or extroverted. How about a person who has anxiety or insecurity or a person who has depression? Are those innate personalities, or does our environment have something to do with it? Hopefully, this blog post will shed light on how we develop emotionally. 

The Human Brain And Its Compartments (What makes Us)

1. Self-esteem – The effect of Serotonin on brain development
2. Social Connection – The impact of Oxytocin on brain development
3. Emotions – The effect of Serotonin on brain development
4. Coping Skills – The result of Endorphins and Dopamine on brain development
5. Motivations and Executive function facilitating the behavior required to plan and achieve goals – The impact of Dopamine on brain development.

Which Part Of The Brain Houses Our Self-esteem, Emotions, And Motivations

1. Self-esteem – Medial Prefrontal Cortex
2. Social Connections – Amygdala
3. Emotions – Amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex
4. Coping Skills – Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Amygdala
5. Motivation – Prefrontal Cortex, Amygdala

How Do Traumatic Experiences Affect The Brain Development?

When we go through traumatic experiences, we induce the fight or flight response that causes us to stay and fight the danger or flee from the threat. Unfortunately, the flight or fight response causes the body to release Adrenaline and Cortisol. As a result, the body releases Cortisol during stressful situations, and in some cases, too much of the hormone can develop a medical condition called Cushing Syndrome. 

The constant spike in Adrenaline and Cortisol can disrupt almost all body processes and contribute to anxiety and depression. 

The ‘Happy Chemicals’ Are Located In The Brain And Other Organs In The Body

Serotonin – Gut (Intestines)

Oxytocin – Hypothalamus

Endorphins – Pituitary gland and Hypothalamus

Dopamine – Adrenal glands (top of the kidney)

An Analogy Of Our Brain Development And Emotional Development

1. Imagine the brain compartments of a baby are like rooms in a new house.
2. You have the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom.
3. When you go decor shopping, you buy the fridge, stove, and plates for the kitchen: the bed, vanity set, and lamp for the bedroom. On the contrary, you don’t put the stove in the bedroom, and you don’t put the bed in the kitchen. Although they may still serve their purpose, we all know that’s different from where the bed and fridge belong in the house. 
4. In the same way, our brain compartments are developed depending on the chemicals or hormones helping with the development. For example, suppose a person was brought up in a traumatic environment. In that case, they might experience more Adrenaline and Cortisol rush compared to a person brought up in a loving home who will have Oxytocin, endorphins, and Serotonin helping their brain development. 
5. When our body only releases the ‘flight or fight’ hormone in a developing brain, Adrenaline, and Cortisol, begin to impair our psychological development. These adverse effects create symptoms that create negative outcomes later in life, such as unhealthy fear, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, digestive problems, heart disease, and chronic headaches. 
6. Instead of the body secreting Adrenaline and Cortisol, it was supposed to be secreting essential hormones and chemicals such as Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphins for healthy brain development for healthy mental and emotional well-being.
7. These hormones and chemicals help in our psychological development from childhood into adulthood. 
8. The presence of hormones and chemicals in brain development helps in the overall health of a person’s mental and emotional well-being. 

Some Benefits Of Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, And Endorphins Include

1. Regulating emotional responses
2. Having a healthy self-esteem
3. Positive social behaviors and interactions
4. Positive communications
5. Being excited about life
6. Healthy self-confidence
7. Stimulated creativity, motivation, and productivity
8. Happy outlook on life
9. Healthy stress management
10. Being empathetic and compassionate

In conclusion, a healthy parent-child bonding process is imperative for the child’s healthy brain development throughout their toddler years, adolescence into adulthood.  

The absence of the bonding process leaves a person vulnerable to life’s stresses and trauma, making it challenging to navigate through life. It also may affect a person’s physical health.