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 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,  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  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2007). Anxiety Disorders. Mental Health: a Report of the Surgeon General. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from  Fox, B. (2005). Anxiety Disorders. Anxiety Panic Hub. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from  Edwards, S. (2005) The Amygdala- The Body’s Alaram Circuit. The Dana Foundation. Retrieved May 31, 2007, from  Healthy Place.com (2006) Anxiety Disorders Statistics and Facts. Healthy Place.Com Retrieved May 30, 2007, from