Your brain is an idiot… sometimes.

I just want to have a quick chat about our brains and how, sometimes, they really aren’t helpful. I’m sure you know this anyway but I was astounded when I learned all about how the Amygdala really is an idiot at times.

So those feelings you get when you’re having a panic attack are triggered by the amygdala. It’s a tiny part of your brain at the top of your brain stem. When it decides that you’re in danger, it triggers your fight or flight response and all the symptoms that you get with it. Sweaty palms, nausea, stomach upset, palpitations, the lot!! The reason it’s a bit stupid is because those physical symptoms are also interpreted by your amygdala as a threat do it gives you even more symptoms.

So, you could just be sitting there watching a film and something tiny triggers your brain, your heart maybe skips a beat, just the one and all of a sudden, your amygdala takes that as a threat and skips more beats, not realising that it has caused the first one. Before you know it, you’re sweating, your throat feels right, your muscles all over your body are contracting and your amygdala is shouting that somewhere behind your sofa, a bear is getting really to attack do you have to RUN!!!

Amygdala

The amygdala is an almond-shaped structure located within the anterior portion of the temporal lobes, comprising a component of the limbic system and known to play a part in controlling emotion, motivation, and memory.

See what I mean? It’s just a bit stupid. Fortunately, there is a way to calm it down. Just go and get yourself grounded. Grounding works when it comes to anytime your brain is overwhelmed. This can be panic attacks, anxiety attacks, PTSD flashbacks, Self-Harm, substance Abuse. Any time that your brain is driving you up the wall, grounding will help you.

Use the 54321 grounding technique that the Calm Charms are based on making sure that you really pay attention to the details when you’re using your senses. That’s what makes the magic happen. For example, you couldn’t be chased by that big scary bear and stop to look at how a leaf looks and the lines in that leaf. You couldn’t describe the details of how a flower or your coffee smells if that bear was chewing on your leg. Really get into those details, stop the amygdala from triggering itself and get a moment of calm.

So, go on, grab a calm charm and show your Amygdala that it can chill out, you’ve got this, and you will decide what is a threat and what is just a jumpy point in a movie.