Change work is all about emotions, reducing some, and cultivating others. By connecting with the right emotional state in the right context, problems can be solved. As part of the limbic system, the amygdala is responsible for primitive emotions such as fear and anger. When posed with a potential threat, the amygdala prepares the body for a freeze, flight, or fight response. When posed with a potential threat, the amygdala prepares the body for a freeze, flight, or fight response.
Imagine you see a snaky thing on the path in front of you. Sensory information is sent to higher processing areas, the first response is routed through the amygdala. As this snaky thing might be a threat, your amygdala prepares the body for a freeze, fight or flight response.
A fraction of a second later the prefrontal cortex analyses the potential threat and lets you know if the threat is real. If it is a snake, then your body is prepared to run. If it is a stick, then your body gets the all clear signal.
Sometimes things get stuck in the limbic system and we have irrational or unwarranted fears. Even though rationally, we know everything is OK, our amygdala isn’t listening.
The hippocampus registers the memories of danger and trauma. When this happens too often, the hippocampus overcompensates and doesn’t function properly. This leads to chronic stress.
An overly sensitive amygdala and an overcompensating hippocampus can lead to generalized stress responses. For instance, a fear of a snake can become intense anxiety at the mere mention of a snake or lead to avoidance behaviours.
Hypnotherapy can help with reintegrating the communication system between the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex. This reintegration is the change work that can help the brain learn to repattern and retrain the amygdala.