Thoughtful Insight on How to Rewire Your Anxious Brain

Rewire Your Anxious Brain: How to Use the Neuroscience of Fear to End Anxiety, Panic & Worry, by Catherine M. Pittman PhD, ad Elizabeth M. Karle, MLIS.

We all feel it – that sense of impending doom in the pit of our stomach, an anxiety about what might happen…some feel it in a debilitating way. The authors of this book paint a very clear picture of how the brain works, why we feel anxious, and how to consciously rewire the neural pathways.  They establish the role of the amygdala, our primitive brain, in fueling the “fight, flight or freeze” response that is hardwired into our subconscious, and then explain how the newer, “thinking” part of the brain, works in connection with that. They are advocates of “teaching your amygdala through experience” – meaning you need to expose yourself (in a safe way) to the stimuli that trigger fear, and “show” your amygdala that you are not, in fact, in danger.  This exposure process creates a new neural pathway.  “Repeated exposure to a seemingly threatening situation without anything negative occurring can teach the amygdala that the situation doesn’t require a fearful response.”

They sympathetically illustrate that just because one feels the sense of fear and panic, it doesn’t mean that there is actual danger.

I found this very helpful, both on a personal basis dealing with ordinary anxiety, as well as a good structure for understanding others in my life who feel anxiety and fear on a much greater level.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject.

Masterminds and Wingmen – New Rules of a Boy’s World

Written by the author of Mean Girls, this book is a great handbook for parents of boys – especially boys entering adolescence.  It gave me such insight into my twin boys – each of whom is different. There were parts where I laughed, others where I cried, and then I went out and bought the book for friends & family members who also have boys.  She is so straightforward and clear in describing what boys experience, and how to parent them to the greatest success.  Much of the content comes from her interviews and work with hundreds of boys. You can also download a free workbook for your son – written without any adult condescension and helpful.  I highly recommend this book.

 

Defining Moments: Breaking Through Tough Times

Dr. Dorothea S. McArthur, a clinical psychologist, helps people recover and grow through life’s inevitable knock-down events. She shares her viewpoint through a series of dialogues that represent typical discussions & feelings around events like a death, or loss of a job, or marital problems. She shows how recovery can help us get stronger & better at seeing the opportunity from change.  One especially fun section of the book goes into the manner in which her pets (cats & dogs) have interacted with her patients in her home office, and shares how their sensitivity to clients’ moods has made a meaningful difference.

This book functions both as an overall general read for insight into how to see the opportunities that arise with change, as well as specific discussions around types of events we all experience – so you can just read the section that applies to you.

Well-written, thoughtful, enjoyable and with important insight.