416. The surprising neuroscience behind your anxiety
5/11/202645 min
Anxiety has a way of making ordinary moments feel life-or-death. A simple interaction can feel significant, a passing thought can spiral into catastrophe, and your body can react as if something is deeply wrong - even when rationally you know you’re probably okay. In this episode, we get into the neuroscience behind anxiety - why your brain becomes obsessed with certain thoughts, why false alarms feel so convincing, and what actually helps when you want to feel less trapped inside your own mind.
We explore:
• Why anxiety feels so intense and urgent
• Our physical and emotional reactions to anxiety
• The role of GABA and glutamate in anxiety
• Why trying to ‘stop thinking about it’ doesn’t work
• How avoidance perpetuates the anxious cycle
• Practical ways for living with an anxious brain
Happy listening!
Watch on Netflix: HERE
Follow Jemma on Instagram: @jemmasbeg
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @thatpsychologypodcast
Subscribe on Substack: @thepsychologyofyour20s
For business: psychologyofyour20s@gmail.com
Our favourite sources:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9559819/
https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2555
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41386-022-01332-2
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027273580000057X
The Psychology of your 20s is not a substitute for professional mental health help. If you are struggling, distressed or require personalised advice, please reach out to your doctor or a licensed psychologist.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
This is an iHeart podcast. [upbeat jingle] Guaranteed human I'm Jemma Spake, the host of The Psychology Of Your 20s.
Jemma Sbeg· Host0:07
Have you ever been at the pharmacy counter and your mind goes blank when the pharmacist asks, "Any questions?" That is why you need to listen to Beyond The Script from CVS Pharmacy and iHeartMedia. Hosted by Dr. Jake Goodman, this podcast answers the questions you'd wished you'd asked, like which meds may not work well together, what vaccines you might need before a holiday, and even some of the questions you're too embarrassed to say out loud. Listen to Beyond The Script on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This summer, find your next obsession on Prime Video. Steamy romance, addictive love stories, and the book to screen favorites you've already read twice, like Off Campus, Elle, The Love Hypothesis, and more. Slow burns, second chances, chemistry you can feel through the screen. They have so many binge-worthy series and can't miss movies, perfect for when you're unwinding, reflecting, or just wanna avoid your responsibilities just for a little bit. No judgment. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here is a reminder. You don't need to be fully healed to explore your desires or put yourself out there. Your progress and self-development, it's not a finish line, it is a journey. That's why I think Feeld, F-E-E-L-D, is so great.