“I survived because the fire within me was brighter than the fire around me.”
Day 20 Morning Scorecard and Survivor Self-Reflection:
Amygdala: Fear and Loathing in Your Brain
The amygdala is commonly viewed as the villain of the brain, but in reality, it’s probably the hero. The amygdala is the fear center of the brain and its main job is to keep you alive. However, in trying to ensure your survival it often over-reacts and causes you emotional distress. The trick with the amygdala is to not let it rule your world, but to see it for what it is. a smoke detector. When the amygdala fire alarm goes off, just remember to peek around the corner and see if there is really any fire. The amygdala runs off the motto “it’s better safe than sorry.” So if the smoke detector in your brain is always ringing then that is a problem. Obviously, when your alarm goes off it’s important to look at the evidence to see if a reaction is warranted. However, false alarms are more often the norm when it comes to fear and we should take care not to let these mistaken beliefs consume our internal lives.
FACT: Two-thirds of the neurons in the amygdala (emotion center) of your brain are primed to see negative stimuli.
TAKEAWAY: If there is a snake or a berry bush in front of you, evolution wants you to pay attention to the snake first. This is bad news for all of us in the modern world as the brain tends to always see the worst-case scenario first.
Conflict Resolution Therapy: Poor Man’s EMDR
If you have any unfinished business rolling around in your head, most therapists will recommend EMDR as the procedure of choice. EMDR stands for "eye movement and desensitization reprogramming," which is basically a fancy way of saying that it is possible to reshape how you interpret an event. The basic concept is that when you activate both sides of your body simultaneously, both sides of your brain activate as well. This is good news for you worry warts out there because when this happens, the right side of your brain (emotional center) gets a chance to talk to the left side of your brain (rational center). This would be analogous to a very worked up friend (right brain) getting a chance to get a second opinion from a calmer more logical friend (left brain). EMDR therapists activate your brain in this way by moving their finger back and forth in your field of vision. If you don't see a therapist, however, you can do this in your own life on a smaller, cheaper scale. Anytime you pass a ball or object between your hands, go for a run, or move your eyes from one side to another you are activating your brain's natural communication lines and working to figure out your own problems internally.
FACT: EMDR therapy is the most recommended trauma therapy today, dramatically reducing the emotional content of an incident. So you still remember the trauma but it just doesn’t feel as heavy.
TAKEAWAY: The brain has a tremendous ability to heal itself, EMDR gives you the tools to be your own therapist by activating the calmer version of yourself.
“The ultimate measure of man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands in moments of challenge and controversy.”