Our Brain's Smoke Detector || The Amygdala

Did you know our brain's have a built in smoke detector? It can sense danger within milliseconds and alert us to it! It's called the amygdala, a small pecan sized piece of our brain. Just like a real smoke detector it has no idea if you left the burner on too high and something is burning on the stove or the house is on fire and you need to run for your life. It's only job is to sense danger and make us aware of it. It's an amazing tool and works wonderfully most of the time...but when exposed to trauma and prolonged stress it can become overactive and hypersensitive. Have you ever had a smoke detector run out of battery in the middle of the night and start chirping at you incredibly loud? Ya, so annoying right? Sometimes our amygdala becomes like that too, chirping at us all the time, distracting us and going off when it doesn't really need to. When the amygdala senses danger it starts the cascade of a release of hormones including adrenaline and cortisol. So when your amygdala is hypersensitive you may find yourself feeling fearful, insecure and anxious.

Here are three things we can do to teach our amygdala it's ok and it can cool out!

1. Increase Proprioception.

Proprioception is our body's ability to know where it is in space at all times. We have receptors all throughout our body in our joints and our skin. When we increase proprioception we send a signal to our brain that we are safe. We can be calm and exist here. It is such a powerful tool it can literally override feelings of anxiety and overwhelm on a neurological level! So stinking cool and so easy. You can increase proprioception simply by pressing. Press your hands together in prayer pose, press your feet into the floor, press your back into the back of your chair, or go all out and lay on the floor and press your legs and arms into the floor. I've used this easy tool in the middle of job interviews just by pressing my feet into the floor and clenching my hands together under the table! It works like a charm and nobody even knows I'm doing it.

2. Belly Breathing

Place your hands on your belly and breath deep into your belly. Feel your stomach rise and you inhale and fall as you exhale. Tune into it. How does is feel? What do you notice? Deep belly breathing brings us back into the present moment and is incredibly grounding.

3. Mountain Pose

This yoga pose is incredibly grounding and incredibly easy! Just stand with your feet hip width apart, bring a slight micro bend to your knees (don't lock them out), and let your arms fall to the side with your palms facing forward. Tune in. Notice. Notice your feet on solid ground, pressing into the earth. Imagine roots growing from your feet, down into the earth. Root, ground, be still.

I hope these tips help you get your amygdala in working order and bring grounding and calm to your life!