YOU CAN THANK THE AMYGDALA FOR THE RIOTS IN BALTIMORE

Apr 29

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Like a gladiator jumping over a wall into the middle of a battle, that uneducated, ancient part of your brain has the final say regarding what you need to do to survive. Simply trying to think your way out of a panic will not help. Once the amygdala releases those fight-or-flight hormones into your system, it is all systems go! Have you ever tried telling someone who was yelling to calm down? A lot of good that did, right?

How long does it take for your amygdala to have your head spinning? Less than a second. For my women readers of a certain age, if you have ever had hot flashes, you can verify that they seem to come out of nowhere, very quickly, without provocation. Actually, hot flashes are due to a thought that just triggered a fear or concern, and it happens even when you are sleeping. You never noticed it because even a small concern causes your amygdala to react. While these chemicals are in play, you will feel very justified as you yell or have a tantrum, but when they dissipate, you wonder, “Why did I react like that and get upset over something so trivial?” You did it because your brain thought your life was in danger, and in the blink of an eye, you reacted instinctively.

In a social context, people with similar fears and frustrations will feel validated as they join together in groups, gangs, or cults. When the dreaded “group mentality” kicks in, a dangerous momentum can take place.

Your brain likes to be in agreement with others because staying with the crowd thousands of years ago gave you protection. Have you noticed that when you have a disagreement with someone, each of you is in defense mode? Your brain reacts as though the physical you—and not just your opinion—are in danger!

In this context, people may even join gangs or other groups with which they have very little in common other than their outrage, yet that one common factor can result in them taking violent political positions or engaging in all out war. All of the violence in the world can be traced back to an amygdala that screams, “Kill or be killed!”

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Counselor, trainer, author, motivational speaker, who has been teaching people about human behavior since 1986. Why do our brains seem obsessed with problems, both real and imagined? Believe it or not, it’s not your fault— it’s your default! Sharie teaches people down to finally understand why your brain loves worrying about problems and how you can stop and finally get off the Worry-Go-Round™ Your brain is programed to believe that impending doom is around every corner due to an outdated evolutionary trait that helped ancient humans survive. But in present day this program is not only obsolete but it is making us sick! If you have ever been kept awake a night as your mind conjured up fears of sickness, deaths of loved ones, financial crisis, and car wrecks, you know what I mean. Share teaches how to stop the urge to get upset simply because your boss is annoyed at you or you are stuck in traffic or how to redirect your brains distorted perception of problems using easy-to-follow, proven techniques. In her latest book she explains how to implement a targeted program that will stop your stress response in its tracks, leaving you calmer, stronger and happier. You will finally have the control over your moods and behaviors that you have been seeking. You will replace feeling, vulnerable, exhausted and joyless with a brand new positive outlook that will change your life. At the top of her field as a motivational speaker, addiction specialist, and co-producing the David Toma show, Spironhi’s world suddenly fell apart when she was diagnosed with rapid-cycling bipolar depression. For the next six years, her journey in and out of hospitals left her tired and hopeless. But in 1996, just before giving up, she was miraculously healed of all mood swings and the bi-polar disorder disappeared. Her profound experience propelled her to discover how this could happen and if there was any scientific explanation for it. That year, neuroplasticity was confirmed, proving that the brain can change and heal itself. Spironhi has a gift for explaining technical scientific details and getting to the heart of what holds people back from the changes they desire. She works year round doing workshops, one-on-one sessions, and speaking engagements.

Posted on April 29, 2015, in Self Help and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a comment.

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