Need help with anxiety

Post Reply New Topic

I am not completely sure what you are describing but let me work it backwards using what you have previously said. Generally when you think of a brain, you do not realize it is composed of many different components. You brain really has three separate brains tied together. It is like an onion.

At the core [of an onion] is your brain stem and hypothalamus (the archipallium). They regulate the internal states through autonomic control of the viscera and blood vessels. This stratum manifests in behavior. The function of this primitive system is immobilization, metabolic conservation, and shutdown. Its target of action is the internal organs.

The next layer up is the sympathetic nervous system. Its function is mobilization and enhanced action (as in fight or flight); its target in the body is the limbs.

The outer layer is the parasympathetic nervous system that regulates the so-called mammalian or “smart” vagus nerve, which is neuroanatomically linked to the cranial nerves that mediate facial expression and vocalization. This is the social brain.

When a brain goes into a shutdown mode, it collapses inward from the social brain down to the core.

You said:

So being overwhelmed with stress in the outer layer will shut down your social brain. Your emotions go flat.

You said:

So collapsing down one level you have entered the middle region of the onion. This region reacts to threats. Normally the way this brain works is it will either have you flee and avoid the threat or fight the threat. If you are being bullied your body is in a fight or flight mode. Doing one of these actions will relieve the stress. But socially you may be constrained from taking one of these actions. If you cannot take an action you become trapped. That leads to a shutdown in the middle brain.

At this point you enter a shutdown state, you may collapse to the ground and even lose your ability to talk. You are in a total shutdown mode. So based on "feeling trapped" caused by "bullying", you are in a shutdown.

I have a skill that allows me to avoid total shut downs. Others Aspies also possess this skill but it is hard for me to know how many. When I approach a shutdown, I allow myself to become disassociated. I control the process. In a sense I separate my mind from my body for a short period of time. It is like my spirit is looking down at my body below. I logically look at the stressor and analyze it from a thousand different perspectives (millions of what-ifs). I arrive at a decision and then I implement the decision. The process only takes a few seconds and I may look a little spacey during that time but my mind is racing like a jet rocket. It also uses up much of the stress energy in the process. As a result I am never trapped and never dip down into a total shutdown. It is a very valuable skill to have. So perhaps this is what you are referring to and if so, realize it is a valuable skill and grow it.

@jimmy m: That's actually an excellent idea. I should work on your trick....and check whether this is something I'm doing already.

Thank you for explaining all of this, it's good to try to make sense of things. I see I have a big project ahead of me, one that will take time. It's at least a starting point.

I noticed a woman wearing mirror glasses in a news article today. Hers has a blue tint. Looks socially acceptable. Here is a link. 'Wing mom' goes viral for playing son's matchmaker at grocery store

Hehe - Sorry, I realized I read the article and forgot to answer. I'm afraid I'm not that pretty, but there may be variations on that theme……..At least for spring I can start wearing sunglasses. Right now I'm enjoying the dark.

Thanks everyone for good advice. I have fortunately finished all my exams and am now relaxing at home. I'll definitely try to work on your dissociation trick, jimmy m, it sounds like a useful thing. I've gotten back to meditiating as well. Hopefully things will get better.