The Brain

Edition
May 2019
The Crainal Cocktails: Resources from the Cyrenain’s Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution
Did you know the brain is not fully developed until at least the age of 24?? If you have a history of trauma or substance abuse
during your childhood or teenage years it can take even longer! The last part of the brain to fully develop is the Pre-Frontal
cortex – the part right behind the forehead – that is responsible for decision making and reasoning. That is why younger kids
and adults often have difficulty with decision-making and impulse control. The challenge in the teenage years is to manage
these chemical changes in a healthy, adaptive way, but to do this you need information!

The teenage brain also has very unique levels of brain chemicals that impact their everyday lives.
Let’s explore a few of the different wonder drugs that make up the teenage brain and what their impacts are…

Top tips to keep

melatonin in balance
* establishing that good sleep
routine
* earlier nights before
school/exam
*switch off screens an hour
before bed
*Create a sleep routine and
stick to it – gentle stretching,
a warm bath or shower, or
reading a book

Did You Know:

Teenagers seem to get more excited about things but that’s because
their levels of Dopamine are less regulated than adults and flow easily
through their brains and bodies.
• Too much Dopamine can cause risk-taking behavior or cause you to
put yourself in harm’s way. Think about ways you can take a step
back from situations if you feel like things are getting a bit out of
hand. Take a moment to think about what is happening and make a
call about continuing, or getting out of a situation.

Top tips – Adrenaline:

- Take a step back when you
feel your Adrenaline levels
starting to rise. If you can, try
to take the other person’s
perspective or shift yours
- Online games are not a way
to relax. These games are
designed to keep your
Adrenaline levels at trigger
point. Take breaks often.
Did You Know:
While young people’s brains and bodies are still developing. Adrenaline is
triggered easily and stays in the bloodstream for as long as fully-grown
adults, so the effects can feel overwhelming. The other important thing
to remember is that your body doesn’t know the difference between
Adrenaline being triggered by a false alarm or real danger. So, if you’re
not using the Adrenaline to run away from real danger then that drug
can stay in your body and turn into aggressive behavior or irritability.