Ever Wondered What Exactly
Is Happening In Your Brain When You Have
a
Panic Attack?
The University College
London have recently published findings in the journal Science (2007),
demonstrating that when people experience extreme anxiety or panic, the
activity in their brain moves from the front of their brain to the mid
brain. This was demonstrated by scans showing higher blood flow to the
section of the brain that was most active. The front of the brain
(prefrontal cortex) is where decision making and rationalization takes
place. The midbrain (periaqueductal grey area) is where survival
mechanisms such as fight or flight originate from.
Your brain is the control
center and that is where the change needs to happen. During a panic attack
your brain has moved into panic mode and in order to really restore order
you need to learn how to switch your mental activity back to the rational
part of your brain. What's more is that you need to learn a technique that
will allow you to do so in a split second, regardless of where you are or
what you are doing.
