Why do we feel anxious?

Something transformational: we should all read Oprah Winfrey and Bruce Perry’s book “What Happened to you? They go into detail which really can help clear up some things. I am going to break it down for you in one, hopefully easy to read post!

We feel anxiety because:

• All stimulus is perceived in the lower brain functions
• This is our animal brain, it does not process, it is our fight or flight impulse
• There is also no ability for these brain functions to perceive time, or to skip this lower brain function
• This lower brain function starts saving memories from while we are still in the womb, memories our higher brain function will never be able to recall
• Our entire perception is completely unique because of the input to the lower brain functions, we all see the world differently
• It is completely physiologically impossible to engage the upper brain functions when the lower brain functions are in extreme reactions (true fight or flight)
• Our lower brain functions can get stuck in a reactive state, completely cutting us off from being able to “logic” our way out of fear

This is our most primitive brain. Don’t worry about the names of them. Just know that we have lower brain functions, and upper brain functions. These upper brain functions are the only things that separate us from other animals!

However, there are situations that we experience, even while in the womb. There are memories we will never be able to recall. The ones that we do recall, we cannot tell our brain, ‘hey chill out, I’m not there anymore’. Why not? Because our lower brain functions are incapable of higher-brain-function-thoughts.

Now in supposedly neurotypical (AKA lucky people), they have completely linear responses to stress. linear meaning that the amount of stress is equal to the amount of reactivity they have.

Unfortunately for *most* of us, there has been something that happened at some point of our lives that sensitizes this curve. Of course, it varies in the severity of the sensitivity by person. In some of us a typical daily task, like asking a question, induces terror. Terror!

Anxiety can be relatively easy to self-diagnose in circumstances like that. When we can hardly stand because our legs are shaking so hard, it is usually a sign we are not having a healthy response. It can be further frustrating because while we are actually in extreme situations, we are in auto-pilot. Then years later, our body reacts as if we are back in that situation. Frustrating. As. __________

Now that we have a basic understanding, we have to realize a few incredibly important things.

1. We are not alone!! The World Health Organization estimates that 300 Million people are currently living with anxiety disorder
2. Read #1 again
3. There is help, as frustrating as it is to find what works, there will be a treatment that helps for all of us
   • Talk Therapy – finding someone we really mesh with is like dating… But invaluable
   • EMDR, Biofeedback, HeartTalk, IFS – I’ll do another post on that later
   • Self-care – massage, facial, hypnosis
4. These are other DIY options which require nothing but commitment
   • See this post for whatever we want to call a pause – but we have to do it everyday which is seemingly impossible but also either have a panic attack or do 10 minute breaks sitting on the toilet just figure it out https://www.workingwomenwant.com/2022/09/17/quiet-moments/
   • Every morning we need to make the time to free write three pages of everything we are thinking – dump that crap or it will crap on our day
   • Music, music, music. Find what speaks to the soul
   • We must move our bodies – somehow, some way. Move, walk, dance, wiggle, jump, run, skip, climb stairs, bike, step with high knees, stretch, punch, kick, go to the gym, anything to move the body. That energy needs a release or we are just asking to be pressure cookers

@workingwomenwant I’ve got you. Stay here together. Comment here, how does this make you feel? My heart slows. It is easier to breathe. I feel centered. #lifehack#lifecoach#justbreathe#slowitdown#bestill#anxiety#tipsandtricks#meditation♬ original sound – Isabella Kensington

What works? Tell us, please!