PRIDE MONTH IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA

Someone on FB recently posted an eye-opening statement about the unsettling realization that Families will disown a child for growing up gay, but will keep the family molester a secret.

Fear, which emanates from our amygdala, is as old as the hills. In fact, it is essential to survival. Some people refer to this part of the brain as the dinosaur brain. However, what happens when we disconnect from our brain of reason, the pre-frontal cortex because our amygdala is flooded with fear when wolves, bears, and giants are not chasing us? Pediatrics science writer at Stanford University, Erin Digitale, covers an in-depth article about a Stanford University School of Medicine study that reveals what happens to children diagnosed with chronic stress and anxiety during their critical years in development.

Biological Psychiatry published the results Digitale covers of a study conducted by Senior author Vinod Menon and co-author Dr. Victor Carrion. They reviewed magnetic resonance imaging, also known by its acronym, MRI, to study communication between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex in children whose ages ranged from 10 to 11 years of age diagnosed with chronic stress and anxiety.

The results are indicative of how negative experiences solidify our memories. These memories become fixated and dominate how we respond when negative thoughts and images flood our brains.

Please read about it in more detail by selecting this link: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/04/stanford-study-finds-stronger-one-way-fear-signals-in-brains-of-.html.

Fear about what society may say about our children overrides what society might say about parents who kick their kids out because they are gay or trans.

Keeping the dirt in the family a secret or disowning a child because of their sexual orientation or gender identity continues the cycle of fear, stigma, and shame.

October is Pride month in Jacksonville. We hope to see families show up in support of their children. Anyone struggling with their children may consider reaching out to LGBTQIA+ friendly therapists who can provide a safe space for families and children and seek support groups. Check out JAX Youth Equality for referrals. Other sites, JASMYN in Jacksonville, offer a safe space for adolescents. PFLAG of Jacksonville and PFLAG Youth Advisory offer supportive environments. Check them out online or on FB if you live in the area. Here are some of the links.

https://jaxyouthequality.org/medical-and-mental-health-providers/

https://www.jasmyn.org

https://pflagjax.org

https://pflagjax.org/youth-advisory-council

Hope to see you this weekend!