What Happens To The Brain?

We have certain hard-wired expectations of those to whom we attach; expectations of safety, security, predictability, and a sense of well-being. When we are in distress we innately assume they will move toward us and comfort us. We do not expect our primary attachment figures to move further away from us when we are struggling, nor do we expect them to be the source of our pain.

Our biological makeup predisposes us to scanning the environment for danger; the primitive area of our brain perceives and responds to threats at lightning speed. Any words, tone of voice, facial expressions body language, smell, or movement will trigger the gatekeeper in our brain. When we are threatened physically or emotionally the part of the brain that is sounding the alarm is called the Amygdala. Since the beginning of our species, the Amygdala has been the first responder as it alerts the other parts of our brain to ready the survival skills.

It is very important to know that the Amygdala operates on autopilot, there is nothing conscious about turning it on or off. When the Amygdala pulls the fire alarm, the Hypothalamus responds by sending a message to the adrenal glands to release cortisol and other chemicals necessary for quick response and survival. When we are in survival mode the primitive brain is in control and our thinking brain goes off-line so we feel terribly frightened, anxious, nauseous, confused and chaotic. This may be happening thousands of times a day.