The Hand Brain

🧠 Why I’m Always Talking to Kids About Their Hand (Yes, Really)

Ever caught yourself mid-meltdown, wishing your brain had an “off” switch? Same. Good news though—you kind of do. And it starts with your hand. (Stay with me, I promise this makes sense.)

As a CBT therapist working with kids and adults, I’m always looking for simple ways to explain big, messy feelings. Enter: the Hand Brain Model. It’s a game-changer.

✋ Meet Your Hand Brain

I use this visual trick with children in sessions all the time. But honestly? Grown-ups love it too. It’s a brilliant, no-jargon way to understand what’s going on inside your head when emotions take over.

Try this:

1. Hold up your hand like a stop sign.Your wrist and forearm? That’s your brain stem—your survival centre. Think breathing, heartbeat, fight-or-flight. Very primal. Very necessary.

2. Tuck your thumb into your palm.That’s your amygdala—your emotional alarm system. It’s in charge of spotting danger, triggering anxiety, and generally yelling “OH NO” a lot.

3. Fold your fingers over your thumb.That’s your prefrontal cortex—your thinking brain. The part that solves problems, calms you down, helps you plan, and makes good choices (like not texting your ex).

Together, this makes a mini model of your brain. In your hand. Literal handy brain.

😱 What It Means to “Flip Your Lid”

Now for the fun part: emotional meltdowns.

When you get overwhelmed—whether you’re 6 or 46—your amygdala goes “CODE RED,” and your prefrontal cortex goes offline.

Cue: lid flipped. (Folded fingers fly open. Logic gone. Emotion in charge.)

You might:

• Snap at someone

• Burst into tears

• Storm off

• Eat an entire packet of biscuits before realising you were even hungry

Totally normal. But also, totally manageable.

🧘‍♀️ How to Un-Flip Your Lid

The goal isn't to never flip your lid. That’s impossible (unless you’re a robot). The real goal is to notice it and bring your calm brain back online.

Here are a few lid-resetting tricks that actually work:

• Deep breathing. (I know. But seriously—it slows the panic train.)

• Name it to tame it. Saying “I feel really angry right now” already helps.

• Move. Walk, dance, shake, stretch—just do something.

• Connect. A hug, a warm drink, a pet—comfort calms the alarm system.

  
  

🧒 Teach It to Kids. Use It Yourself.

One of my favourite things is when kids start saying stuff like, “I think I flipped my lid!” or “My amygdala is being a bit dramatic today.” That’s emotional intelligence. That’s self-awareness.

And spoiler: adults need it too.

So go ahead. Talk to your hand. (Literally.) It might just help you feel a little more in control when your emotions go rogue.

Want more practical, down-to-earth brain tools?

I post monthly blogs based on real conversations and tools I use in my CBT therapy room with kids, teens, and adults. Emotionally honest, sometimes funny, always helpful.