In our everyday language, we express an understanding that emotions impact our brains. We may feel “out of our mind,” or perhaps we’ve “lost our mind.” Indeed, emotion affects our brains. But how many of us have an idea of how an emotion like, say, anxiety impacts our neurology? Such knowledge is important.
A big part of our mental well-being involves having a basic understanding of how our minds work. What impacts them? Can we take steps to avoid being triggered in a negative way? How do we get back in rhythm when something like anxiety sidetracks us? To start providing answers, let’s begin by looking at the relationship between anxiety and our brain.
5 Ways Anxiety Affects the Brain
1. Stress Hormones
Certain sensory signals—whether real or imagined—can kickstart our brain’s defense mechanisms. A big part of this hard-wired response is the release of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. When functioning properly, these chemicals prepare your body and mind to deal with a risk or threat. Then, when the threat is gone, the stress hormones go back down to normal levels.
In the throes of an anxiety disorder, however, there is the perception of chronic danger. This floods your system with stress hormones. This is the start of an insidious cycle. The chronic perception of danger floods our system. The chronic presence of stress hormones tricks your brain into a perpetual state of high anxiety. Thereby, your anxiety disorder worsens, while the overflow of chemicals may cause physical ailments.
2. Loss of Rationality
The amygdala is the part of your brain that signals the presence of a threat. It alerts the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is responsible for rational thinking and problem-solving. These two brain parts can offer balance in how you perceive the world.
However, when anxiety becomes ever-present, the amygdala increases in size and loses its tight connection with the PFC. The checks and balances grow skewed, and the PFC can no longer serve as the “voice of reason.” Threats just keep appearing worse, and, as a result, the cycle intensifies.
3. Hyper-Vigilance
The hyperactive amygdala and under-active PFC combine to:
Keep you in a contact state of anxious fear
Leave you without the mechanisms you need to control it
Whether or not you recognize them as such, it’s always false alarms. Your brain’s default setting is to assume that everything is dangerous until proven safe (and perhaps not even then).
4. Memory Storage
Let’s introduce another part of the brain. The hippocampus is a crucial component when it comes to memory. It processes long-term memories and puts them into context. Anxiety is like a monkey wrench in this system. It shrinks the hippocampus and tricks it into storing skewed memories. You end up prioritizing the storing of events that relate to perceived danger. Anxiety and stress have become viewed as the norm.
5. Anxiety is a Skilled Liar
All of the above is possible because anxiety tells lies. It waits for the slightest hint of vulnerability and fills in the blanks with tales of risk and threat. These false perceptions are buttressed with lies about you, e.g.:
“They’re out to get you.”
“Don’t trust anyone.”
“You can’t handle it.”
“It’s safest to not even try.”
Unless and until you can identify such lies, they can control your thought patterns. A giant step in becoming better equipped to deal with anxiety is seeking out the help of a skilled professional.
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A therapist is trained to guide you through the process of recovering from anxiety. I’d love to help you on their journey. Let’s connect soon for a free and confidential consultation.