Anxiety can often feel like a tumultuous storm raging within us, manifesting as a racing heart, a churning stomach, and a sense of impending doom. While our brains significantly generate fear and anxiety, there’s a profound connection between our minds and bodies. In this article, we’ll explore the neuroscience and physiology of fear, as explained by psychiatrist and neuroscientist Arash Javanbakht, and discuss how acupuncture can be a valuable treatment modality in managing anxiety.
Fear and the Brain
Dr. Javanbakht delves into the intricate workings of the brain when it comes to processing fear. He highlights that the amygdala, a small almond-shaped region, plays a crucial role in determining the emotional relevance of a situation and how to respond to it. When we perceive something as dangerous, the amygdala rapidly triggers physical responses, often bypassing logical thinking. This primitive response system was essential for early humans facing immediate threats like predators.
The hippocampus, closely connected to the amygdala, helps us contextualize fear. It differentiates between actual dangers, like encountering a lion in the wild, and perceived threats, such as seeing the same lion in a zoo. The prefrontal cortex, on the other hand, manages the cognitive and social aspects of fear, sometimes even instilling fear based on social influences.
Fear and the Rest of the Body
When our brain perceives a situation as threatening, it sets off a cascade of neuronal and hormonal reactions that prepare us for action. While some aspects of the fight-or-flight response occur in the brain, most happen in the body.
The brain’s motor cortex sends rapid signals to our muscles, including those in our chest and stomach, to prepare for quick, forceful movements. These signals can result in feelings of tightness in these areas. The sympathetic nervous system, often referred to as the “gas pedal” of fight-or-flight, increases the heart rate and dilates airways. These responses lead to sensations like a racing heart and shortness of breath. Digestion slows down as blood flow redirects to more vital organs.
The Brain-Body Connection
All these bodily sensations, including those felt in the chest and stomach, are communicated to the brain through spinal cord pathways. Our anxious brain processes these signals both consciously and unconsciously. The insula and the prefrontal cortex, responsible for conscious awareness and labeling of emotions and bodily sensations, can inadvertently contribute to a loop of increasing anxiety.
Acupuncture as a Treatment Modality
So, if anxiety originates in the brain but is profoundly felt throughout the body, how can we effectively manage it? One holistic approach that has gained recognition is acupuncture. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to restore balance and promote healing.
Acupuncture’s effectiveness in treating anxiety is its ability to modulate the body’s stress response. When strategically placed acupuncture needles stimulate the body’s nervous system, triggering the release of endorphins and other neurochemicals that promote relaxation and reduce stress.
Moreover, acupuncture can help rebalance the autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches. By calming the sympathetic nervous system (the “fight-or-flight” response) and enhancing the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest-and-digest” response), acupuncture can alleviate anxiety-related physical symptoms such as a racing heart, muscle tension, and digestive discomfort.
Acupuncture also addresses the mind-body connection by promoting mindfulness and relaxation during sessions. This can help individuals become more aware of their bodily sensations and emotions, allowing them to break free from the anxiety loop.
Anxiety often takes center stage in the intricate dance between our brains and bodies. Understanding the neuroscience and physiology behind fear is essential in managing anxiety effectively. Acupuncture emerges as a valuable treatment modality that can help rebalance the mind-body connection, reduce physical symptoms of anxiety, and promote relaxation. By combining ancient wisdom with modern science, individuals struggling with anxiety can find relief and reclaim their sense of calm and well-being.
References:
Javanbakht, A. (2023, September 5). If anxiety is in my brain, why is my heart pounding? A psychiatrist explains the neuroscience and physiology of fear. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/if-anxiety-is-in-my-brain-why-is-my-heart-pounding-a-psychiatrist-explains-the-neuroscience-and-physiology-of-fear-210871
Resource Books:
Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety
ARASH JAVANBAKHT, MD
Behave: The Biology of Humans at our Best and Worse
ROBERT M. SAPOLSKY
