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Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

nature.com

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Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#71

Post by bluepizza »

impulser_ wrote: post #13

So from my understanding. Anxious people are so anxious that they overload the part of the brain that typical deals with anxiety so the brain routes it to another part of the brain to deal with it and that part of the brain isn't what you want dealing with it so it cause problems. So the key is too limit overloading the part of the brain that deals with anxiety, which probably means doing things you are fearing to do…

As a life long anxiety sufferer, I identify with your interpretation.

My anxiety devolves into panic attacks if I try to deal with it consciously - self talk, rumination, avoidance. But it goes into a dormant state when I don't engage with it consciously and just let it be.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#72

Post by antman »

amelius wrote: post #42
impulser_ wrote: post #13

So from my understanding. Anxious people are so anxious that they overload the part of the brain that typical deals with anxiety so the brain routes it to another part of the brain to deal with it and that part of the brain isn't what you want dealing with it so it cause problems. So the key is too limit overloading the part of the brain that deals with anxiety, which probably means doing things you are fearing to do…

> So the key is too limit overloading the part of the brain that deals with anxiety, which probably means doing things you are fearing to do so that you no longer fear doing it. I gave this advice in the past, but I know people with social anxiety disorder for whom this approach does not work.

Has two parts: Meeting with people, interacting with people. One step at a time, a couple of people, for a specific timeframe.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#73

Post by Obscurity4340 »

LouisSayers wrote: post #53
Obscurity4340 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've weirdly noticed a type of analagous mechanism in relation to anxiety where I castastrophize or engage in worst-outcome thinking and when things inevitably turn out ok, the relief from the incongruity has a somewhat "euphoric" and calming effect. I feel like it might be somewhat maladaptive and "addictive"

I remember reading something similar about people who survived bombings in London during the war. Apparently many of the survivors were quite content as they had somehow survived the destruction.

I think "meaning" plays a huge role and when you can get yourself to buy into a productive/growth mindset-type narrative, it does seem to help immunize against trauma or at the very least, to help integrate it to the point the negative effect is attenuated

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#74

Post by esperent »

eliasmacpherson wrote: post #52
impulser_ wrote: post #13

So from my understanding. Anxious people are so anxious that they overload the part of the brain that typical deals with anxiety so the brain routes it to another part of the brain to deal with it and that part of the brain isn't what you want dealing with it so it cause problems. So the key is too limit overloading the part of the brain that deals with anxiety, which probably means doing things you are fearing to do…

> doing things I believe this is done in supervised fashion in Exposure and Response Prevention, and also CBT. Some say ERP violates the Hippocratic Oath part about 'do no harm'. I found the mockery of it in GTA SA quite entertaining [1]. In my own experience, it's probably best to talk to a therapist before forcing yourself into doing things you are fearing. [1] https://gta.fandom.com/wiki/Inversion_Therapy

Physiatrists and psychologists don't take the Hippocratic oath in most cases. I don't think it's even that common for doctors to take it - definitely not in it's original "do no harm" form.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#75

Post by yosito »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #45

If you suffer from serious anxiety, I highly recommend you work on any health issues you have. Low blood sugar in particular is known to promote anxiety by increasing the amount of adrenaline in your system. I used to suffer a lot of anxiety. Getting physically healthier helped mitigate that enormously. Proviso: n=1, "anecdata" and the usual dismissals that random internet strangers desperately try to apply as if I s…

Not to mention that physical activity itself can be a great, immediate remedy for anxiety. A daily run does a whole lot for calming my anxiety.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#76

Post by riazrizvi »

So, heightened anxiety triggers alternate emotional regulation, with traits like pro-avoidance behavior.

To me this is not necessarily dysfunctional. It may also go hand-in-hand with motivating heightened deliberation. I can see how one can fall into regressive patterns like distracting ourselves away from critical path actions, especially if a particular person only uses one of two strategies, 1) try going on as before or 2) try forgetting we need to go this way.

I take a more neutral approach on the finding and don’t yet assume this is something that is best medicated out of. They show that even mild emotional challenges can saturate FPl neural range, which to me is simply a greater sensitivity that can be easily overloaded (like when you put the voltmeter on a more sensitive setting). Exposure Therapy is a methodical, deliberate, routine heavy strategy. ET doesn’t simply get us to re-engage, it gets us to re-engage with new and different behavior, which may be essential to success.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#77

Post by petesergeant »

abarkasxa wrote: post #19

have agoraphobia pretty bad. I've spent so much time trying to work on exposure, but then I'll have a huge panic attack, I don't have access to my frontal cortex to reason through it, during this time I'm feeling the immensity of the universe, I feel electricity running through my body, at the end of it all when I get somewhere "safe" I'm not able to think straight or sleep well for months. So yeah the impulse to avo…

The Claire Weekes stuff is pretty old but very very good, worth looking up

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#78

Post by yosito »

abarkasxa wrote: post #19

have agoraphobia pretty bad. I've spent so much time trying to work on exposure, but then I'll have a huge panic attack, I don't have access to my frontal cortex to reason through it, during this time I'm feeling the immensity of the universe, I feel electricity running through my body, at the end of it all when I get somewhere "safe" I'm not able to think straight or sleep well for months. So yeah the impulse to avo…

Extreme agoraphobia probably requires more than just simple exposure to improve. I'd recommend working with a therapist. But one thing I am curious about: during exposure, you don't have access to your frontal cortex, that makes sense. But after exposure, do you spend any time reflecting, and reminding yourself that nothing bad actually happened to you? It might be that exercising your frontal cortex afterward could help you learn to cope with the situation in the future. At least, that's what I've done with social anxiety and it seems to help.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#79

Post by yosito »

impulser_ wrote: post #13

So from my understanding. Anxious people are so anxious that they overload the part of the brain that typical deals with anxiety so the brain routes it to another part of the brain to deal with it and that part of the brain isn't what you want dealing with it so it cause problems. So the key is too limit overloading the part of the brain that deals with anxiety, which probably means doing things you are fearing to do…

If your interpretation is correct, it seems that there could be some truth to the old wisdom of (gradually and willingly) facing our fears in order to develop more courage.

Re: Anxious brains redirect emotion regulation

#80

Post by petesergeant »

If you suffer from anxiety, and haven't tried any of the following yet, worth giving a go: escitalopram (with medical supervision, also 10mg did nothing for me, 20mg was life changing), ingesting silexan / lavendar oil, L-Theanine with your coffee, less coffee, less alcohol, propanalol (see a dr) instead of benzos for break-through anxiety, ashwagandha.
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