Transcript Meditation, Anxiety, & the Brain

Anxiety, Meditation, & the Brain
Nicole C. Coelho
June 4, 2007
EPS 503
Neuropsychology
Anxiety Disorders







Panic Disorders
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Agoraphobia
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Specific phobia
Acute stress disorder
Post traumatic Stress Disorder
Anxiety
Disorders
 Characterized by unrealistic, unfounded fear
& anxiety
 Over activity of the autonomic nervous
system
 Hyperactivity of the central nucleus of the
amygdala
 Amygdala is associated with the emotional
responses in humans
Lesions of the amygdala
decrease people’s emotional
responses
Common Symptoms







Shortness of Breath
Clammy Sweat
Irregularities in heartbeat
Dizziness
Faintness
Feelings of unreality
Feelings of death
Anxiety
 Anxiety is normal reaction to life events
 Anxiety may also be hereditary
 At times, it may be positive in nature as it
makes us more alert and makes us take
things more seriously
 On the other hand, it may severely disrupt
peoples lives.
Anxiety Disorders Statistics & Facts
 They are the most common mental illness in the
US with 19.1 (13.3%) million of the adults US
population affected.
 Anxiety Disorders cost the US more than $42
billion a year, almost one third of the $148billion
total Mental health Bill
 People with anxiety disorders are 3-to 5 times
more lively to go to the doctor and six times more
likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders
than non-sufferers
 Women are twice as likely to be afflicted than men.
Stats & Facts cont’d
 About 1 in 5 Americans suffer from
symptoms of a mental illness during any
given year.
 That’s more than cancer and diabetes
combined.
 Sadly, many cases of mental illness go
undiagnosed and those suffering never get
the successful treatment available
Treatment
 Medication
– Benzodiazepine (anxiolytic effect)
– Serotonin agonists- fluoxetine
– Busiprone
 Behavior Therapy
Meditation & Yoga





Teach mindfulness awareness skills
Empower thoughts which create panic and anxiety
Enable Relaxation for mind and body
Learn to let go fear & anxiety
Promote well being and happiness– increased
level of activity in the prefrontal cortex
 Mind will calm and you become less likely to
overact
What is occurring?
 Anxiety
 “Fight or Flight”
 Sympathetic
Activation
 Stress
 Meditation
 “Rest & Digest”
 Parasympathetic
Activation
 Relax
Meditation & Yoga
 Promote parasympathetic activation in our
brain
 Promote deep relaxation on muscular level
 Alleviates Stress
 Promising approach for dealing with the
acute stress response
 Effective for relief of anxiety and stress
Simple Quote
 Meditation brings wisdom; lack of
meditation leaves ignorance. Know well
what leads you forward and what hold
you back, and choose the path that leads
to wisdom.
Author: Buddha
Works Cited & References









Davidson, R. J., Kabat-Zinn, J., Schumacher, J., Rosenkranz, M., Muller,
D., Santorelli, S., Urbanowksi, F., Harrington, A., Bonus, K., &
Sheridan, J. F. (2003). Alterations in Brain and Immune Function
Produced by Mindfulness Meditation. Psychomatic Medicine,
65, 564-570.
Marsh, S. (2004, April 8). Buddha's way is best if you want to combat
stress. The Times, 6.
Mandeville, A. (2007, January 28). The rules of relaxation. The
Sunday Times, 8.
Wagner, C. ( 2006, March- April). Stress and the Brain. The Futurist, 13.
Bujosa, C. (2007). Mindfulness- Based Anxiety Reduction. Mindful Recovery. Retrieved May 31,
2007, from http://www.mindfulrecovery.com
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2007). Anxiety Disorders. Mental Health: a Report
of the Surgeon General. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/mentalhealth/chapter4/sec2.html
Fox, B. (2005). Anxiety Disorders. Anxiety Panic Hub. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from
http://www.panicattacks.com.au/
Edwards, S. (2005) The Amygdala- The Body’s Alaram Circuit. The Dana Foundation. Retrieved
May 31, 2007, from http://www.dana.org
Healthy Place.com (2006) Anxiety Disorders Statistics and Facts. Healthy Place.Com Retrieved
May 30, 2007, from http://www.healthyplace.com