The Gift of Neuroplasticity in the Treatment of Anxiety Problems: Expert information to Change the Brain

You may have heard of this word neuroplasticity.  But, what does it mean and how is it important in the treatment of anxiety?  Simply put, neuroplasticity is the ability of the brain to change its structures and reorganize patterns of responding to the environment.

The good news for anxiety suffers is that:

·      The circuitry of your brain can be rewired.

·      You can work with a psychologist to change your brain to stop doing the things that upset you.

·      You can make your brain more resistant to anxiety,

·      Your brain does not have to react in the habitual way that it has in the past.

·      Your brain is capable of changing your thoughts, feelings and actions that get you into emotional trouble.

 

Neuroplasticity is About Creating a New You

 

When you work with a psychologist that is neurologically informed, your goals will include strategies and methods to change the brain in ways you desire.

Folks, drugs do not do that.  They are temporary and do not change the structure of the brain in a more permanent way like talk therapy and skill development do.

When you work with Fearless Mind, our goal is to intentionally make the brain more resistant to anxiety.   In a way, we are working together to create a new you.

You will work on creating new and improved brain circuitry that results in new responses and skills.  As you do this you become more confident of your ability to change in ways that you desire. Your expectancy for your future improves.

So, the word rewiring is quite accurate and a reasonable way of thinking about the change that you will accomplish by working with a neurologically informed clinician.

 

Reconsolidation is the Key to Changing the Brain

 

When you consolidate you are forming and storing memories in the brain.  Essentially you are strengthening the connections between the brain cells or neurons in the brain.  One neuron fires and another fires at the same time.  The connection between these neurons or brain cells are strengthened.  This happens over time and a habit is born.  Such as the habit of becoming anxious to a certain thought or trigger.

But what about this idea of reconsolidation?  Well, when a memory is accessed, it is in a labile or in a more fragile state and can be changed in ways before it is stored again.   

There is new evidence from neuroscience that indicates that memories can me changed in ways that we did not previously believe. Memories are not like DVDs.  They can be changed by reviewing.  Thus, each time a memory is accessed the potential is there to change the memory.

This is also true for emotional memories.  They can be modified as well.  Anxiety is activated in the amygdala in the brain.   New connections in the amygdala are only made when the circuits are activated.  When activated you experience the emotion of anxiety. 

In fact, we need to activate the amygdala to generate new connections or to reconsolidate.  This is why experiencing anxiety while in therapy or when exposed to triggers is necessary for reconsolidation or change.  Withstanding the anxiety can lead to permeant change.  That is not possible with medication which actually suppresses or dulls the amygdala. 

Just like to need to heat the water to make coffee or tea, you need to heat up the circuitry to make changes in it.  When you feel the anxiety, you know that you have the attention of the amygdala.  The circuitry is placed in a position or state where changes can be made.

The general interventions that can change the amygdala and the other partner in change, the prefrontal cortex or thinking brain, include changing thoughts or cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, exposure to triggers with reconsolidation strategies.  These methods lead to permanent change whereas medication does not.  That is not to say that medication cannot be helpful in reducing anxiety.  But the fact remains that when the mediation is discontinued, the symptoms return.

All the interventions used here at Fearless Mind are based upon empirically supported methods that have been documented to be effective treatments.  Every person is unique and the treatment benefits that help one person may not have the same results for another.

If you would like to learn more, reach out for a Free consultation.



Dr. Chris Wolf