The limbic system is a key area for the regulation of emotions and anxiety. The limbic structures process incoming stimuli and regulate our emotional responses. There are various structures involved(the all important amygdala, the hippocampus, thalamus, hypothalamus, among others). The amygdala is an almond shaped little structure in the brain, a key for anxiety. It fires much more readily in those with anxiety, and is larger than in people without much anxiety. Even at age 5, in kids with separation anxiety, the amygdala is much larger and fires often. Anxiety often begins in early childhood as separation anxiety(think of the little tyke holding onto mom’s leg for dear life on the first day of kindergarten). Then, as years go on the anxiety often morphs into generalized anxiety, OCD, panic disorder, and social anxiety. Anxiety, and the size of our amygdala, is very genetic and inherited; one can trace anxiety in multiple generations within a family. Just as in headache, anxiety(and depression) are not “psychological” or “in your head”, but physical, inherited constructs. The other structures that are key in anxiety include the thalamus, the left prefrontal cortex, and the anterior cingulate gyrus. For a terrific read on Anxiety, and the brain structures involved: The Anxious Brain by Wehrenberg and Prinz.
The Limbic System and Anxiety
by Dr Robbins | Dec 26, 2011 | Headache Drugs | 7 comments
7 Comments
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- What’s Really Causing Your Anxiety & How Hypnotherapy Can Solve It | Paul Milham Hypnotherapy - […] mentioned before, anxiety comes from the primary emotional centres of your brain contained within the limbic system. The limbic…
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Now, i understand why i am encountering anxiety attack.
Now I know already the reasons why I feel those symptoms like I can’t sleep no matter how I try my best, I get mad easily at simple things, I want to be alone, pulpitting, and the like. But I find some solutions to fight all those things because I’m afraid it would lead to depression moreso that I have a brother shall I say suffering from depression too. Sometimes he laughs alone and then I asked him why is he laughing then he answered me he was just thinking of funny things. But though he is like that he can do chores normally. In fact he is alone in out family house and I just give his allowance and knows how to budget it.
thank you for commenting………..LR
I personally think about the limbic system as being one of the ” clocks ” that controls immune system and as a sufferer of misdiagnosis (20 years) by British medicine refusing to accept PTSD mine has been complex and thus I have desperately tried to make sense of it but I truly believe that there is a link between the limbic system and PTSD and therefore the immune system starts to attack the organs in the body resulting ultimately in premature death I would love to see some science undergraduate get his/her PhD by correlation and if you get stuck just use bonferroni to increase your validity good luck and God (oops) bless you
I just realized now that all that happens and everything or how we react on the situations maybe inherited.. and that our behaviors are not our own it was just inherited from our parents..
yes, genetics is a key..of course, first 19 years of life experiences are also, but genetics(nature vs. nurture) is probably more of a factor, maybe 70%-30%
Its a good note for others to also interact and or approach people with kindness and compassion at all times for we might dont know what kind of mishaps others are suffering from. Some are brought about by their past experiences and emotional baggages that they cant easily let go of and others are mainly inherited.