On this episode of The Anxiety Project Podcast, I go over the part of the brain that initiates the anxiety response, the amygdala. The amygdala, when activated, prepares the body to flight, fight, or freeze. When doing so, there is an increase in cortisol and adrenaline within the body, which then creates a wide range of anxiety symptoms. Some symptoms include: shallow depth of field, racing heart, perspiration, and shallow breathing. These symptoms of anxiety can be misinterpreted as being life threatening, which then makes your anxiety spiral out of control. When we look at these symptoms as being a natural defensive response produced from the amygdala, we then lesson the impact of the anxiety we experience. In this episode, I go over the amygdala and its response to perceived threats, as well as how we can use the amygdala to better control our anxiety.