What happens when are you in danger? For example, you are caught off guard and see a snake, or perhaps a stranger behind you in the dark parking lot. Your antenna is up and so is your fight-or-flight response. More importantly, the brain did two things extremely fast. First, it formed an association and secondly engaged your body for defense. The region in the brain called the amygdala connects the two events forming an association and coded it as an unconscious memory. When your specific trigger presents itself again, say a snake or odd stranger (as simple examples) it automatically activates the amygdala like the original threat did, evoking fear, anxiety or trauma. The automatic nature of the activation process reflects the fact that the amygdala does its work outside of conscious awareness. We respond to danger with fear; only afterward to realize that danger is or is not physically present.
Every animal and human being experiences fear. Yet don’t confuse fear with worry or anxiety. Experiencing uncertainty, the true unknown – it a human trait that depends on our ability to anticipate the future. We can anticipate movements similar to high performance athletes preparing their mind and body to strike, to jump, to bend, to step aside when the race or game is occurring. But to project ourselves into the future, a place that is physically impossible yet mentally achievable, often causes worry and anxiety to be amplified unnecessarily. How much energy have you spent today worrying? Will the plane arrive on time? Why didn’t she return my call back yet? Is there enough budget?
We are in such an advantageous position to make things work; however, between our multitasking, passive listening, and negative self-chatter, it is very often overpowering and hinders are actions and good intentions. When we envision how to make our lives better, for example, going on a diet to drop weight and gain energy, we actively worry less about the future outcomes. We are more focused on the present. What healthy meals will I make this week? Can I get extra steps in my walk? These are positive thoughts with less worry about the future outcome. We become more productive in our work environment and home life. The worry, concerns, unknowns – all are outcomes that we can’t control and frankly not our battle to fight.
Dr. Joseph LeDoux, Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, and Director of the Emotional Brain Institute, shares that fear and anxiety are in the brain because they helped our ancestors and theirs cope with life’s challenges. But when these states interfere with our ability to survive and thrive, we label it with anxiety or fear. These are alterations of the brain system, particularly housed in the amygdala. Research shows through MRI scans hat after an eight-week course of a mindfulness practice, the amygdala shrinks ultimately reducing our cortisol and stress levels. These insights in neuroscience offer us hope that we can change our emotional states. Just as a muscle becomes more powerful, so worry, fear and anxiety seem to become more powerful, in that we become more sensitive to circumstances around us and even begin to lose confidence. The phenomenon is broadly known as neuroplasticity. Some concern about outcomes is essential to success in meeting life’s challenges and opportunities. But at some point, most of us probably worry more than needed. You have such a creative capacity to take advantage of the future. Don’t let it or fear, take advantage of you.
Sources: Dr. David Hamilton and Dr. Joseph LeDoux
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