What Causes Anxiety in the Brain?
There seems to be an easy way to answer this question. List the events, people, places, and more that stress you out. All of that causes anxiety in your brain, right? On a surface level, yes. But the deeper analysis is not about how specific issues upset specific people. What we’re talking about here is the design of your brain.
The human brain evolved in a very different kind of world than the one you live in now. The rapid evolution of our culture and our technology has outpaced our biological evolution. Hence, your brain will, at times, have difficulty keeping up.
Is It Real or Imagined? Doesn’t Matter.
A brain hard-wired to avoid large predators uses anxiety to warn us. In context, anxiety is helpful and can be a lifesaver. But this warning system was designed before life became more secure and sedentary. You could be stressed about a job interview or a first date. Internally, you can’t tell the difference between this and being chased by a Komodo dragon.
Your stress response — a.k.a. fight-or-flight reaction — is initiated regardless of how serious the threat is. What matters is perception. The stress hormones, pounding heart, and sweat, happen just as intensely for a math test as they would for a shark.
The Chain of Events
When you perceive anything that feels like danger, that stimulus (via ears or eyes) is set up to alert the amygdala. This part of your brain interprets the data. When danger is present, the amygdala informs another part of your brain (hypothalamus) to get the sympathetic nervous system in gear.
A major part of the instantaneous response is the release of stress hormones that bring about a range of physiological changes, e.g., increased heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen uptake. Your senses sharpen, and your energy levels become elevated. All of this happens in the name of survival. But remember, the external cause could be a perception that someone is harshly judging you on social media.
If false threats regularly trigger your stress reaction, it can contribute to a wide range of ills — both physical and psychological. This is how typical anxiety can be corrupted into an anxiety disorder.
Countering the Impact of Anxiety
If all of the above made you even more anxious, please know there are steps you can take. Your aim should be to prompt your body into a relaxation response. In other words, the cycle of anxiety can be countered if you can remind your mind and body that the threat is over. Some options to consider:
Relaxation techniques: This includes time-proven methods like meditation, deep breathing, visualization, yoga, prayer, chanting, and tai chi.
Physical exercise: Besides the aforementioned tai chi and yoga, your body will respond positively to anything that promotes movement, exertion, and focus.
Connecting with others: Life feels much more secure when you’re in the company of trusted friends and family members, so find ways to spend more time with your community.
Anxiety Disorders Require Treatment
Quelling anxiety can be more complicated than self-help. When things have escalated to the point of being chronic, you will likely need some professional input. Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental distress on the planet. Fortunately, there are many proven approaches to cope with this. The first step is to ask for help.
If you want to take back control and thrive again, I invite you to reach out to set up a free and confidential consultation—the therapy setting positions you to explore the root causes of your discomfort. You can learn how to recognize patterns and replace them with healthier choices from there.
Learn more about our anxiety therapy in Plainview, New York
