This is what happens to your brain when you’re anxious

Shortness of breath, lump in the throat, tachycardia, dizziness… these symptoms are familiar to people who suffer from anxiety. Disabling, terrifying and disturbing, they are signs of intense stress. While we already know the physical symptoms, what happens to the brain during panic attacks and anxiety?

According to Amy Marschall, a licensed clinical psychologist, interviewed by VeryWellMindanxiety plays a major role on hormones: “Anxiety and stress cause the brain to release cortisol (the stress hormone), which can help us cope in the present moment, but which depletes us over time.” And we remind you: chronic stress can cause many physical and mental health problems.

Areas of the brain that activate in cases of anxiety

As the media explains VeryWellMindin cases of anxiety, it is the limbic system of the brain that processes it. This part of the brain is made up of the hippocampus, the amygdala, the hypothalamus and the thalamus. Concretely, the limbic system is the part of our brain which “connects to emotions and memory, as well as fear, stress and motivation. It is a part of the brain that regulates autonomic processes.”indicates the expert. The hippocampus is the area that will consolidate information, it is short and long term memory, it stores memories. The amygdala goes “dealing with emotional responses, such as fear”specifies the media.

For its part, the hypothalamus aims to “regulate the autonomic nervous system and control stress reactions and stress management”. While these areas are essential to our brain and its balance in processing information, anxiety literally disrupts its functioning: “When the anxiety response is activated, the amygdala takes over, this is the fight/flight response. The amygdala takes over from the frontal lobe – the part of the brain that controls rational thought, language and impulse control – making us act in ways that would normally be unusual”says expert Amy Marschall. So, what happens if anxiety continues over several years?

The consequences of prolonged anxiety

In a person who will suffer from anxiety for many years, at a high stage, the consequences can be dramatic: “Research has shown that prolonged anxiety causes growth in the amygdala – the part of the brain responsible for responding to threatening stimuli and creating fear – This leads to more intense reactions to threatening stimuli, especially those who arouse fear and anger.”

And this area also affects “the hippocampus (where you process information and memory) and the prefrontal cortex (where personality resides).” Result: the balance of these areas, essential for feeling fulfilled and peaceful, is put to the test and destabilized. As you will have understood, it is therefore essential to successfully combat chronic anxiety, in order to ensure mental and physical balance, as well as inner fulfillment.