How To Use Neuroscience To Eliminate Anxiety, Become More Optimistic, and Overcome Childhood Trauma with Dr. Wendy Suzuki
Oct 13, 2021
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Dr. Wendy Suzuki, a leading expert in neuroplasticity and psychology from NYU, shares insights on transforming anxiety into a powerful tool for growth. She discusses how stress impacts brain health and presents effective strategies to combat anxiety, including a simple five-minute practice. The conversation dives into the effects of childhood trauma and offers techniques for self-kindness and optimism. Dr. Suzuki also reveals the science behind the best workouts for anxiety reduction and how to harness creativity from anxious feelings.
Anxiety activates the amygdala, increasing cortisol levels which, if chronic, can harm brain cells and impair memory.
Deep breathing techniques and physical activities are effective methods for immediate anxiety relief and improving overall mental well-being.
Childhood trauma impacts brain development, but engaging in healthy lifestyle choices can enhance resilience and cognitive function later in life.
Deep dives
Understanding Anxiety and Its Mechanisms
Anxiety is defined as the uncomfortable feeling of worry or fear, often arising from uncertain situations. It is closely linked to stress, which serves as the body's general response to threat. When experiencing anxiety, the amygdala, a part of the brain associated with fear detection, becomes activated, increasing the stress hormone cortisol. While a healthy spike in cortisol can enhance alertness, chronic high levels lead to detrimental effects in the brain, including the potential death of neurons and memory issues.
Effective Strategies for Managing Anxiety
Deep breathing and physical movement are two effective methods for reducing anxiety. Deep breathing, particularly techniques like box breathing, activates the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and reducing heart rate. On the other hand, engaging in physical activities, even simple ones like walking, directly influences brain health, mood, and overall well-being. These approaches provide immediate relief from anxiety and enhance mental clarity.
The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Anxiety
Childhood trauma can profoundly affect brain development, potentially leading to an increased susceptibility to anxiety in adulthood. While high levels of stress during formative years can influence brain structures, it's important to understand that the brain is also capable of recovery and adaptation due to neuroplasticity. By engaging in activities that promote brain health, such as exercise and sufficient sleep, adults can improve their cognitive functions and emotional resilience. Taking proactive steps toward wellness can mitigate the long-term effects of early life stressors.
Harnessing the Superpowers of Anxiety
Anxiety, often seen as a negative emotion, can actually serve as a catalyst for creativity and empathy. By reflecting on one’s anxiety, individuals can gain insights into their values and needs, which can foster deeper connections with others. Moreover, anxiety can stimulate creative problem-solving, helping people explore new perspectives and approaches to challenges. Embracing anxiety as a part of the human experience allows individuals to turn it into a source of strength and understanding.
Implementing Joy Conditioning for Positive Mental Health
Joy conditioning is a proactive approach to counteract fear conditioning by consciously evoking positive memories associated with specific stimuli, such as scents. By recalling joyous experiences and attaching meaningful sensory cues, individuals can cultivate a sense of well-being and mitigate feelings of anxiety. The practice involves revisiting pleasant memories intentionally to strengthen their emotional impact. This technique empowers individuals to enhance their emotional states and foster resilience against stressors.
Today’s episode is all about anxiety, but from a very different angle than it’s typically talked about. Dr. Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University and a celebrated international authority on neuroplasticity. She serves as a sought-after expert for publications including The Wall Street Journal, Shape, and Health, and her TED talk has more than 31 million views. Her most recent book, Good Anxiety, can be found wherever books are sold.
On this episode, we talk about:
Exactly what’s happening physiologically and neurologically when we experience anxiety
How stress and anxiety can actually kill brain cells (and how to fix it)
How much of eliminating anxiety is changing our brain (our thought processes, etc) versus our body (gut health, etc)
The 2 most studied ways to reduce feelings of anxiety
Why it’s so hard to stick to a meditation practice or exercise routine (and how to transcend that)
The 5-minute practice that research shows significantly decreases anxiety
The best type of workout & time of day to workout for reducing anxiety, according to neuroscience
How childhood trauma impacts your brain now
How to hack your brain to stop feeling jealous
How to deal with existential anxiety about what life is all about
How to actually be kinder to yourself on a daily basis
How to use neuroscience to become more optimistic
The things you’re doing to help your anxiety that are actually making it way worse
I would love to hear what you learned listening to this episode, so definitely screenshot and tag me @lizmoody on Instagram, and you can find more resources and information about Dr Suzuki’s book on goodanxiety.com.
PS: My Patreon is live! You can join Green Smoothie Society and get access to ALL of my green smoothie recipes and advice! Get all the deets at patreon.com/lizmoody.
This episode is sponsored by Seed, the makers of one of my all-time favorite supplements. Their Seed Daily Synbiotic is a game changer—it contains both pre- and probiotics, survives INTACT all the way into your gut, AND contains the most studied and powerful strains of probiotics out there. You can get 15% off of your first month’s supply of Seed’s Daily Synbiotic by going to seed.com and using the code LIZMOODY.
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Healthier Together cover art by Zack. Healthier Together music by Alex Ruimy.