So someone told you that your anxiety is all in your head? Well, that’s actually kind of right. Your brain has a lot to do with what makes you feel anxious.
Brain Chemicals
You have 10 billion cells in your brain called neurons. These neurons communicate with each other by sending messages back and forth via chemicals called neurotransmitters. In order for these messages to get sent, there needs to be enough of those chemicals. Sometimes when people have anxiety, they either have too many or too few chemicals. Here a few examples:
GABA-slows your neurons. When GABA isn’t working you might feel agitated. GABA may even increase problems with other chemicals.
Serotonin-helps even out your mood, your appetite and your sleep. When this chemical is low you might experience poor planning, poor impulse control, fly off the handle with everyday problems, or be rigid with things.
Norepinephrine-keeps you alert and energetic. It also helps balance your blood pressure. When this chemical is too high, you may feel jittery, have scattered thoughts or experience panic attacks.
Parts of Your Brain
Different parts of your brain do different things. Just like completing a call requires your phone to receive a signal and send back a response, all the parts of your brain need to function smoothly for the messages to be clearly received and sent. The brain is very complex and I could talk about all the different parts and what they do, but let’s keep this simple.
Nervous System-gets organs going and calms them down
Stress Response System-gets hormones like adrenaline pumping
Limbic System-affects emotion and memory
Basal Ganglia-coordinates motivation and body movement
Cortex-responsible for language, thinking, and decision-making
How it All Makes You Feel Anxious
Imbalances in these brain structures can cause specific anxiety disorders.
***Specific Phobias
The amygdala, which is part of the limbic system, looks out for danger, safety and what’s familiar. The amygdala starts the fight or flight response. The hippocampus, also within the limbic system, is involved in learning and memory. During a stressful event, the amygdala and hippocampus work together and result in bodily responses that prepare you for danger. People that experience certain phobias may have an amygdala or hippocampus that goes into overdrive, even when danger is not present.
***Panic disorder
Panic symptoms can be caused by abnormalities in the brain stem and prefrontal cortex.
***Generalized Anxiety Disorder
GAD can be caused by abnormalities in chemicals like GABA and Norepinephrine. People with GAD may also have less activity in their central and peripheral nervous systems.
What????
So, do you feel like you just had a mini science class? Well, when it comes to the mind and body, science has a lot to do with it. Please don’t feel defeated though. Sometimes medication can help smooth out these chemical levels. If you feel like you are suffering from anxiety, talk with your doctor. He or she may recommend trying medication or talking with a therapist.
For more information, please contact me via email.
eglcsw@eileengrudierlcsw.com
REFERENCES
Wehrenberg, M. (2008) The 10 Best-Ever Anxiety Management Techniques. New York: W.W. Norton and Company Inc.
Wolfe, B. (2005) Understanding and Treating Anxiety Disorders. An Integrated Approach to healing the Wounded Self. Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association.
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-ab&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=XnMhWq7KI8eGjwT-8amoBw&q=nervous+system+in+brain&oq=nervous+system+in+brain&gs_l=psy-ab.3…5664.7568.0.7625.9.5.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0….0…1c.1.64.psy-ab..9.0.0….0.SeoWcc4I-uE#imgrc=eD7TxRjg3iVsPM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=limbic+system&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwir7qTRjenXAhVq6oMKHZmvDPMQ_AUICigB&biw=1024&bih=488#imgrc=6edMGXk7THWRsM:
https://www.google.com/search?q=basal+ganglia&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwjeXLkOnXAhXJz4MKHUnRC0EQ_AUICigB&biw=1024&bih=488#imgrc=ITVix6_QX76ynM: