Regression

Welcome to our exploration of the wild world of Regression. Picture this: a third-grader, furious at a kid named Joe, ends up slapping him instead of throwing a punch, leading to a spectacle worthy of schoolyard folklore. Or picture a child, under 10, attempting to stage an epic battle between Optimus Prime and Snake Eyes with a candle and a bedspread, resulting in a somewhat less epic fire. And let's not forget about the classic romantic attempt to steal a first kiss while the love interest is on a swing, only to end up with a face-smashing instead of a heart-melting moment. 

These cringe-worthy memories serve as the perfect segue into the concept of regression, where stressful situations send us spiraling back to our less sophisticated selves. This can result in anything from temper tantrums and baby talk to the desire for comfort objects and an alarming inability to perform self-care. The triggers are plentiful, covering everything from poor coping skills and medical issues like delirium to psychiatric disorders like psychosis. 

Along the way, we get a visit from Dr. Dodge, the ATF Therapist in Residence (of his own house) who helps us understand just how the brain works at such a young age, why we get wired the way we do from childhood experiences, and offers a dose of meditation that can ease the effort to regress and understand ourself. Plus, we have a Revolutionary escape and a classic game of ATF Regression Rewind!