Pity Our Poor Brains

devabritow
2 days ago
6 min read

I went into our local supermarket about a week ago, in search of my favourite crossword puzzle book. There's a history of dementia on my Mom's side of the family, and it's hitting very close to home at the moment, so I'm cognizant of the genetic aspects of the disease. I've been doing crosswords for years, but I'm certainly ramping up the regularity of working through them under the circumstances. At the end of my workday, I like to sit in front of the TV, watching The Chase (the UK version with Bradley Walsh, ITV Studios), while simultaneously doing a crossword. It's a two-fer for my brain, since both trivia and crosswords are linked to improved cognitive function.

I wasn't able to find my favourite crossword puzzle book in the supermarket that day, but as I browsed the scant shelf of magazines, hoping that it would magically appear, my eyes fell upon a magazine that I just had to have. It's called The Anti-Anxiety Handbook.

"The Science of Anxiety"

**There are so many helpful tools out there.**

When I got to my car following my fruitless pursuit of a new crossword book, I summarily tossed the magazine on the back seat, and there it lay for about a week or so. I knew I would get to it eventually, but I didn't really have high expectations of its contents. I love it when any text proves me wrong.

Despite personal experiences with anxiety and pretty much studying it for the last fourteen and a half months, I did not know the origin of the word. It is rooted in the Latin word "angere", which describes the feeling of being choked by worry and fear. The word "anguish" also originates from the word and indicates intense suffering and distress. The two words are, in my opinion, not mutually exclusive because the bouts of anxiety I have experienced sure came with a heck of a lot of anguish.

Anxiety has been a constant focus of the self-help journey, and I've covered several aspects of it, from causes to cures, noting that there isn't one, single cure for it. I've written about the various ways it manifests in day-to-day life and focused on several excellent books that offer ways to cope. That said, the aim of this week's blog isn't to rehash any of that but to touch on something additional I learned alongside the origin of the word anxiety.

"One of the brain areas that sends signals into the amygdala is a group of cells called the raphe nuclei. These cells send out the feel-good brain chemical serotonin. This chemical has gained a reputation for being the 'happy hormone' but its role in anxiety is not so positive. A group of antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) help to improve mood by keeping serotonin around in the brain for longer but they can also increase anxiety." (Laura Mears in The Anti-Anxiety Handbook)

I've made no secret of the fact that, while I acknowledge the efficacy of SSRIs in the treatment of depression, it is a personal choice I have made to avoid them. In the brief periods in which I used the medication, it was clear that they dulled the edge and coping from one day to the next was made easier. I've scanned the far reaches of my mind for any hint that I may have heard this before. Still, I don't recall ever hearing about any negative impact of SSRIs on anxiety (even if only temporarily). Had I known then what I know now, I may never have taken them because another point I have been clear on is that of the two evils, depression is the lesser, and my focus has always been more on getting a handle on anxiety. I think that the trail of books I have worked through has been a clear indication of where that focus has been.

"Anxiety Disorders"

I love the layout of The Anti-Anxiety Handbook. The topic of anxiety is handled in articles that flow seamlessly into one another, with a different writer writing each chapter. Ben Grafton writes this one, and he advises that, if you're struggling with anxiety, the best step is to consult with a physician to establish a root cause and then work toward a suitable treatment. I have not been able to identify the root cause of the experiences I have had with anxiety. Still, this particular article shed some light on similarities relating to my experiences and one anxiety disorder type, particularly.

The experiences I have had with anxiety are with the generalised kind.

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a prevalent mental health condition marked by ongoing, excessive and uncontrollable anxiety about daily matters like work, health, finances or relationships, even when there is minimal or no cause for worry. The condition manifests as physical symptoms, including restlessness, muscle tension, fatigue, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and trouble sleeping.

This has primarily been my experience in the past, but even in the midst of the trauma of those experiences, I count myself fortunate. Yes, I am shy and am not a fan of social situations, but I can't say that I have Social Anxiety. While I have had a couple of awful experiences (direct and indirect), I cannot pinpoint an event that has resulted in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). I don't have Agoraphobia (the fear of being unable to escape), and despite having a couple of panic attacks this year, I do not have Panic Disorder (repeated, unexpected panic attacks).

So, it's good to be able to identify the type of anxiety I have experienced, but here's the rub: the underlying cause of Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is not attributed to one factor alone — it typically results from a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors that interact over time. This self-help journey is about fixing these biological, psychological and environmental factors, and I am getting there.

"The Cycle Of Anxiety"

"No one is saying that our ancestors had it easy. Few of us today have to face the prospect of being attacked by a lion or a hippo. But our ancestors had one great advantage when it comes to anxiety: their worries were definite. It did not take long to see whether or not there was a leopard hiding up that tree. Our uncertainties are less defined and longer lasting. This is where the roots of anxiety lie. (Edoardo Albert, in The Anti-Anxiety Handbook)

The Cycle Of Anxiety is an excellent article among the three exceptional ones covered in this blog post. It's about how anxiety leads to avoidance, to short-term relief from anxiety, and to long-term anxiety growth. It is a vicious cycle. By avoiding what we dread, we're reducing our anxiety temporarily but compounding it in the long run. "While avoidance brings a short-term reduction in anxiety, each time we avoid uncertainty and its accompanying feelings, we are building a bigger wall of habit".

Darn, I should have gone into that ballet class all those years ago. I should have faced my physical insecurities earlier, too. I should have learned to say "no" (and "yes" sometimes too). Should have, could have, would have. The only consolation is that it's not too late.

Little By Little, Step By Step

Biological, psychological and environmental factors.

For several months, since February of this year, I have had an elevated (resting) heart rate. During the first panic attack in February, my resting heart rate rose to 134 BPMs at its worst. In July, the highest reading was 124 BPMs. Outside of the panic attacks, my resting heart rate was almost always around 90-100 BPM. It is an incredibly uncomfortable and frightening experience, and I am extremely grateful that things have shifted somewhat.

Changes to my personal circumstances and a decided shift toward keeping a close eye on anxiety levels and the preceding thoughts that kick start a spell have begun to reap reward.

The image on the left is a screenshot of a message from the Health App on my phone/watch. For eleven days (and despite suffering a family loss), my resting heart rate has (more-or-less) stabilised. A few days before this notification popped up, I could tell that something had changed. I felt different. Intermittent checks on my watch clearly showed a drop, and I was thrilled to see that. I have taken Dr Joe Dispenza's advice and "allowed no thought to enter my mind that I do not want to experience" (paraphrasing). I've been mindful. It's helpful. It's liberating. It's inspiring. And I want more of it.

Random Quote

"You are searching the world for treasure, but the real treasure is yourself." (Rumi)

#anxiety #depression #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mindfulness #selfhelp #selfcare #youarennotalone #thereisnostigma #wellness