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If you have ever experienced anxiety, you'll likely be familiar with the physical symptoms. From clammy hands to a racing heart, the physical symptoms of anxiety can be difficult to ignore. You may be less familiar, however, with what is actually going on in your brain during those moments. The brain activity is less obvious, but there are plenty of important processes at play.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.
The part of the brain that processes anxiety is called the limbic system. It includes the hippocampus, the amygdala, the hypothalamus, and the thalamus.
Each component of the limbic system has a slightly different role, and collectively they are responsible for automatic or unconscious processes.
First up is the hippocampus, the part of the brain that consolidates information. Without the hippocampus, we would not be able to form long-term, short-term, or spatial memories.
The way the hippocampus creates and stores memories can affect anxiety, since it makes connections between your memories of stressful events and how you respond to them.
Next up we have the amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for emotional responses. All sorts of emotions live here, from anxiety to aggression.
The amygdala also contributes to the way we experience anxiety by making connections between past experiences and the way we react to stressful events.
The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating the autonomic nervous system. It forms one third of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is responsible for stress management.
It is the hypothalamus that coordinates the endocrine system, which means it is responsible for regulating temperature and appetite. Both things are noticeably affected by stress.
Overall, the limbic system is responsible for memory, behavior, and emotions. Without the limbic system, we would have no survival behaviors at all.
Indeed, it is the limbic system that allows us to process information, react to that information, and learn from each experience so we know how to react in the future.
When it comes to anxiety responses, people often talk about "fight or flight." For a long time, these were the only two anxiety responses that were really recognized.
Nowadays, however, experts refer to four anxiety responses: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. When we experience stress, our amygdala takes over and produces one of these responses.
For people whose amygdala chooses "fight" as their stress response, the tendency is to get into physical fights or altercations because of stress.
The "flight" response, by contrast, is characterized by an intense desire to flee the situation that is causing the person to feel stressed or anxious.
For people in flight mode, it can seem like the world is closing in on them and they may start to panic. Generally, they will avoid threats, whether real or imaginary, at all costs.
People whose automatic response to stress is to "freeze" will tend to completely shut down in face of a threat, rather than having an active response.
This stress response is often associated with trauma and serious anxiety, and it can have extreme physical symptoms, such as numbness and holding your breath.
The "fawn" response to stress is what happens when people choose to back down and show submission to the person they fear, rather than taking action.
This reaction is common in people who might be described as "people-pleasers," or people who have difficulties with setting boundaries in their relationships with others.
Long-term stress can have serious consequences for both our physical and mental health. Physical issues can include high blood pressure, heart problems, and weight gain.
Long-term anxiety can also cause people to develop anxiety disorders, which in turn can have a negative impact on brain function.
Indeed, studies show that prolonged anxiety can cause the amygdala to grow. As a result, people may experience more intense reactions to threatening stimuli.
Research also shows that long-term anxiety can affect cognitive function. Indeed, rational decision-making suffers when the brain is currently in stress response mode.
In a nutshell, long-term anxiety causes the brain to rewire itself to accommodate that anxiety, which in turn makes the person more likely to react in an unhealthy way. It’s a sort of vicious circle.
If you or someone you know is struggling with anxiety, there are certain things you can do to make symptoms more manageable.
On the one hand, there are medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), that your doctor may prescribe for anxiety.
Another approach would be to attend therapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy, for example, can help target negative reactions and teach people to respond to stressors in a healthier way.
Sources: (Verywell Mind)
See also: Shortness of breath: anxiety, or something more sinister?
The neuroscience of anxiety: brain processes explained
The science of stress
HEALTH Mental health
If you have ever experienced anxiety, you'll likely be familiar with the physical symptoms. From clammy hands to a racing heart, the physical symptoms of anxiety can be difficult to ignore. You may be less familiar, however, with what is actually going on in your brain during those moments. The brain activity is less obvious, but there are plenty of important processes at play.
Curious? Check out this gallery to find out more.