Anxiety, Meditation, & the Brain

Nicole C. CoelhoJune 4, 2007

EPS 503Neuropsychology

Anxiety Disorders Anxiety Disorders

Panic DisordersPanic Disorders Obsessive-compulsive disorderObsessive-compulsive disorder AgoraphobiaAgoraphobia Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Specific phobiaSpecific phobia Acute stress disorderAcute stress disorder Post traumatic Stress DisorderPost traumatic Stress Disorder

AnxietyAnxietyDisordersDisorders

Characterized by unrealistic, unfounded fear Characterized by unrealistic, unfounded fear & anxiety& anxiety

Over activity of the autonomic nervous Over activity of the autonomic nervous systemsystem

Hyperactivity of the central nucleus of the Hyperactivity of the central nucleus of the amygdalaamygdala

Amygdala is associated with the emotional Amygdala is associated with the emotional responses in humansresponses in humans

Lesions of the amygdala Lesions of the amygdala decrease people’s emotional decrease people’s emotional

responsesresponses

Common SymptomsCommon Symptoms

Shortness of Breath Shortness of Breath Clammy SweatClammy Sweat Irregularities in heartbeatIrregularities in heartbeat DizzinessDizziness FaintnessFaintness Feelings of unrealityFeelings of unreality Feelings of deathFeelings of death

AnxietyAnxiety

Anxiety is normal reaction to life eventsAnxiety is normal reaction to life events Anxiety may also be hereditary Anxiety may also be hereditary At times, it may be positive in nature as it At times, it may be positive in nature as it

makes us more alert and makes us take makes us more alert and makes us take things more seriouslythings more seriously

On the other hand, it may severely disrupt On the other hand, it may severely disrupt peoples lives. peoples lives.

Anxiety Disorders Statistics & FactsAnxiety Disorders Statistics & Facts

They are the most common mental illness in the They are the most common mental illness in the US with 19.1 (13.3%) million of the adults US US with 19.1 (13.3%) million of the adults US population affected. population affected.

Anxiety Disorders cost the US more than $42 Anxiety Disorders cost the US more than $42 billion a year, almost one third of the $148billion billion a year, almost one third of the $148billion total Mental health Billtotal Mental health Bill

People with anxiety disorders are 3-to 5 times People with anxiety disorders are 3-to 5 times more lively to go to the doctor and six times more more lively to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders than non-sufferersthan non-sufferers

Women are twice as likely to be afflicted than Women are twice as likely to be afflicted than men.men.

Stats & Facts cont’dStats & Facts cont’d

About 1 in 5 Americans suffer from About 1 in 5 Americans suffer from symptoms of a mental illness during any symptoms of a mental illness during any given year. given year.

That’s more than cancer and diabetes That’s more than cancer and diabetes combined. combined.

Sadly, many cases of mental illness go Sadly, many cases of mental illness go undiagnosed and those suffering never get undiagnosed and those suffering never get the successful treatment available the successful treatment available

TreatmentTreatment

MedicationMedication– Benzodiazepine (anxiolytic effect)Benzodiazepine (anxiolytic effect)– Serotonin agonists- fluoxetineSerotonin agonists- fluoxetine– BusiproneBusiprone

Behavior TherapyBehavior Therapy

Meditation & YogaMeditation & Yoga

Teach mindfulness awareness skillsTeach mindfulness awareness skills Empower thoughts which create panic and anxietyEmpower thoughts which create panic and anxiety Enable Relaxation for mind and bodyEnable Relaxation for mind and body Learn to let go fear & anxietyLearn to let go fear & anxiety Promote well being and happiness– increased Promote well being and happiness– increased

level of activity in the prefrontal cortexlevel of activity in the prefrontal cortex Mind will calm and you become less likely to Mind will calm and you become less likely to

overactoveract

What is occurring?What is occurring?

AnxietyAnxiety ““Fight or Flight”Fight or Flight” Sympathetic Sympathetic

ActivationActivation StressStress

MeditationMeditation ““Rest & Digest”Rest & Digest” Parasympathetic Parasympathetic

ActivationActivation RelaxRelax

Meditation & YogaMeditation & Yoga

Promote parasympathetic activation in our Promote parasympathetic activation in our brainbrain

Promote deep relaxation on muscular levelPromote deep relaxation on muscular level Alleviates StressAlleviates Stress Promising approach for dealing with the Promising approach for dealing with the

acute stress response acute stress response Effective for relief of anxiety and stressEffective for relief of anxiety and stress

Simple QuoteSimple Quote

Meditation brings wisdom; lack of Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what hold what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.to wisdom. Author: Author: BuddhaBuddha

Works Cited & ReferencesWorks Cited & References Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller,Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller,

    D., Santorelli, S., Urbanowksi, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., &     D., Santorelli, S., Urbanowksi, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., &     Sheridan, J. F. (2003). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function     Sheridan, J. F. (2003). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function     Produced by Mindfulness Meditation.     Produced by Mindfulness Meditation. Psychomatic Medicine,Psychomatic Medicine,     65,     65, 564-570. 564-570.

Marsh, S. (2004, April 8). Buddha's way is best if you want to combatMarsh, S. (2004, April 8). Buddha's way is best if you want to combat     stress.     stress. The Times, The Times, 6.6.

Mandeville, A. (2007, January 28). The rules of relaxation. Mandeville, A. (2007, January 28). The rules of relaxation. TheThe     Sunday Times,     Sunday Times, 8.8.

Wagner, C. ( 2006, March- April). Stress and the Brain. Wagner, C. ( 2006, March- April). Stress and the Brain. The FuturistThe Futurist, 13., 13.

Bujosa, C. (2007). Mindfulness- Based Anxiety Reduction. Bujosa, C. (2007). Mindfulness- Based Anxiety Reduction. Mindful RecoveryMindful Recovery. Retrieved May 31, . Retrieved May 31, 2007, from http://www.mindfulrecovery.com2007, from http://www.mindfulrecovery.com

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2007). Anxiety Disorders. Mental Health: a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2007). Anxiety Disorders. Mental Health: a Report of the Surgeon General. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from Report of the Surgeon General. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec2.htmlhttp://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec2.html

Fox, B. (2005). Anxiety Disorders. Fox, B. (2005). Anxiety Disorders. Anxiety Panic HubAnxiety Panic Hub. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from . Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.panicattacks.com.au/http://www.panicattacks.com.au/

Edwards, S. (2005) The Amygdala- The Body’s Alaram Circuit. Edwards, S. (2005) The Amygdala- The Body’s Alaram Circuit. The Dana FoundationThe Dana Foundation. Retrieved . Retrieved May 31, 2007, from http://www.dana.orgMay 31, 2007, from http://www.dana.org

Healthy Place.com (2006) Anxiety Disorders Statistics and Facts. Healthy Place.Com Retrieved Healthy Place.com (2006) Anxiety Disorders Statistics and Facts. Healthy Place.Com Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http://www.healthyplace.comMay 30, 2007, from http://www.healthyplace.com