In last week’s blog, we explored the Upstairs Brain and the Downstairs Brain. This week, I’d like to examine the downstairs brain in more detail.
The Downstairs Brain has two primary regions:
- Brainstem (Amygdala)
- Limbic System (Emotional)
These regions are also known the Reptilian Brain and the Mammalian Brain, respectively. The Downstairs Brain produces fear, anger, aggression, worry, anxiety, and selfishness…with good reason. The brainstem focuses on the NEED for safety, survival, and territoriality. These needs trigger our concerns for order, routine, and regularity.
- The brainstem receives input from the body and sends input to regulate processes; heart, lungs, and the like.
- It shapes the energy levels of the brain and directly controls our states of arousal.
It keeps you alive. It houses your survival instinct. It produces the fight, flight, or freeze reactions. It keeps you from falling off a cliff or getting eaten by a bear. Even so, that doesn’t give you an excuse to feed, engage, or take selfies with bears in the Smoky Mountains!
PROMINENT CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BRAINSTEM
- It operates on the unconscious or subconscious level.
- It influences our response and reactions that are preprogrammed and automatic, a response to the environment…These ARE NOT CREATED BY OUR THOUGHT OR CHOICE.
- Preprogrammed responses come in the form of fight, flight, or freeze. They are manifested through emotions (which we will discuss in the next blog).
- It directs our attention towards (or away from) things we need to avoid (or notice) TO SURVIVE…AKA the survival instinct found in reptiles, mammals, and humans.
- It views the world in term of potential dangers or threats (The NEGATIVITY BIAS)…It’s why Facebook and other Social Media feeds look like they do.
- It oversees reproduction, self-preservation, and vital functions (blood circulation, breathing, sleeping, sex, etc.). Again, it is your survival instinct.
- It cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. (Dreams, food, porn, drugs, etc.). Have you ever stressed over something that never happens or has a chance of happening? This is why.
- WE DO NOT WANT TO OPERATE OUR LIVES FROM THE BRAINSTEM.
- It takes self-awareness to acknowledge when you are allowing your brainstem to control your actions, behavior, and words, which can be learned.
I know this is a lot of information to absorb. However, it is CRITICAL to understand in order to discover and maintain wellness and balance in life. When you know what your brain is doing during stress or not having your needs met, you can understand and process a better, healthier emotional response.
Yes. You can learn to stop yelling, be overwhelmed by anxiety, and most importantly, you can learn to stop taking selfies with bears.