Summary of Tracey Marks's Why Am I So Anxious?

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat. It can be real or imagined, and it’s not immediate. For some people, the hyperarousal state can develop into fear and trepidation, and persist beyond any threat. #2 The flight, fight, or freeze response is the automatic stress reaction. It is a response that originates deep inside the brain and helps you mobilize the energy you need to deal with a dangerous situation. #3 The amygdala is a central structure in emotional expression. It is connected to the prefrontal cortex, which gives it feedback on whether the threat is real. Early exposure to highly stressful experiences alter the connection between the amygdala and prefrontal cortex. Some people are born with disrupted connections in this circuit and have overactive amygdalae. #4 The default-mode network is a group of brain regions that communicates through direct channels, like being in a group messaging chat. It works like this: when you are not actively thinking about something, your brain’s default state is to think about things from the past and present.