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Anxious and
fearful brains do not learn well
By Melissa Martin
Think about the last time you felt anxious. Did your brain jump
offline? Did you make illogical arguments? Did your gray matter
scramble and ramble?
Anxiety and fear are natural human reactions and necessary biological
functions. It’s part of an alarm system that’s activated whenever you
perceive or confront danger or a threat.
However, too much anxiety and fear is not healthy for your brain. And
continual overwhelming anxiety with panic attacks may lead to a mental
health disorder.
Let’s review brain stuff. You have a thinking part in your brain. It’s
called the cortex. The frontal lobe within the cortex is where logic
and reasoning functions exist. You have a feeling part in your brain.
Emotions are housed in two almond-shaped structures in an area called
the limbic system.
Stressful events, high-pressure situations, and chaotic conversations
can produce mega anxiety and fear reactions. When we feel distress, our
brains prioritize survival. A flood of emotional messages wants to
know, “Am I safe?” Blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration
increase. The hormones, adrenaline and cortisol, pump through the body.
And chronic activation of our anxiety/fear response can hinder the
learning parts of the brain.
A child’s brain on anxiety. A big anxious feeling can overwhelm kids.
She may push back, run away, or shut down. These reactions are called
the fight, flight, or freeze response. Learning exits the building.
Some students experience test anxiety and learning circuits are
affected. www.edutopia.org/.
A teen’s brain on anxiety. The thinking lobe in the prefrontal cortex
shuts down when a brain is in emotional strain and pain. Brainstorm:
The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain by Daniel Siegel (2015) is a
recommended book for parents and teachers.
An adult’s brain on anxiety. Adults can also be high-reactors to
perceived or actual anxiety-provoking situations. The National
Institute of Mental Health has a guide on anxiety disorders and the
neurological processes.www.nimh.gov/.
The emotional brain highjacks the logical brain during anxious and
fearful situations at school, at home, and in the community. Learning
comes to a standstill.
In the past two decades, neuroimaging and brain-mapping research have
provided information about educational models and optimal learning
environments. Calmness and curiosity along with challenge and
appropriate stimulation support learning. “Tell me and I forget. Teach
me and I remember. Involve me and I learn,” surmised Benjamin Franklin.
How to Help Your Brain
The first step is to simply be aware of how your brain reacts to
anxiety and fear. The only problem you can solve is a problem that you
acknowledge and accept.
The second step is to make a plan to use before your brain responds
like a fizzling firecracker. You can retrain the brain. The brain can
unlearn and relearn. Diaphragm breathing, meditation, yoga, gentle
massage, soothing music, and comforting self-talk activates the
parasympathetic nervous system which slows down heart rate, lowers
blood pressure, and calms the mind. www.anxietybc.com/.
The third step is to practice your plan when you are calm. Repetition
is necessary. Then in an anxiety-provoking situation, the brain will
leap into a calming action.
Reducing anxiety helps the prefrontal cortex to calm down. And then you
will be able to absorb information, give feedback, and learn.
You only get one brain in this lifetime, so take care of it by managing
anxiety and fear.
“All of imagination - everything that we think, we feel, we sense -
comes through the human brain. And once we create new patterns in this
brain, once we shape the brain in a new way, it never returns to its
original shape,” writes Jay Walker.
Melissa Martin, Ph.D, is an author, columnist, educator, and therapist.
She lives in Southern Ohio. www.melissamartinchildrensauthor.com.
Contact her at melissamcolumnist@gmail.com.
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