Amygdala Hijack
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Special interest Article
Anthony J. Iantosca, BCFE
IAFEI
Published by Anthony Iantosca, BCFE
For the International Academy of Forensic Examiners and Investigators.
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Profiling
Understanding Human Behavior
Amygdala Hijack
?There is no logic to emotion. Sometimes when our emotions override our logical, rational mind we can act in self-defeating ways. All of us at one time or another can have an Amygdala Hijack. This happens when a past auto-biographical memory?of an emotionally upsetting event?resembles a current event. It may seem the same in words or actions but many times it is not.
I see this happening more often than not with personalities who have an insecure attachment style or personalities who have EDD (emotional dysregulation disorder). These personalities are so fearful of rejection and abandonment that their emotions over ride their logic. They act in emotional unstable and self-defeating ways that they will fulfill their own prophecy and bring on the?very rejection and abandonment they are trying to avoid.??????
?This article will explain what happens when our emotions take over our rational thought. The article states "fight or flight" that is wrong and ass end backwards. The Limbic system has three protocols
"freeze, flight or fight."? Many times we can trigger an Amygdala Hijack by gas lighting ourselves. This happens when a past experience that caused us emotional discomfort resembles a current event. They may look and feel the same but sometimes are not. This is when our imagination becomes our reality. This is when people will "twist the facts to fit their emotions" our emotions "should always fit the facts." This is the main reason that there is no logic to emotion. When we enter into an emotional frame of mind our emotional brain the Limbic brain over rides our logical thinking brain,?our neo-cortex. When this happens we sometimes act in ways that are not in our best interest. ??
?What are we seeing today? Stir up emotions, instill fear, gaslight you and when all else fails outright deception. Twist the facts to fit our emotions and agenda. Fear is a very strong emotion.
Our Amygdala of which we have two located in the right and left side of our brain is a small almond shaped structure which triggers our fear response?which regulates emotional and behavioral responses. An amygdala hijack is a flight or fight?response to stress and a possible threat.
To better understand what an amygdala hijack is, you'll need to understand our responses to a possible threat, we enter into the flight or fight response. When you enter into a fearful frame of mind our logical, rational thinking process goes out the window. How can?they accomplish this tactic.?
Stop freedom of speech, if you have a difference of opinion you will be punished. If you attempt to stand up for your rights, you will be punished. We are social creatures, we need personal interaction with others. No one wants to be ostracized and?to become an outcast. When people have a difference of opinion that is what they threaten you,?So you keep your mouth shut. You go along to get along.?Today the EU is threatening American citizens with arrest if they believe you are posting misinformation or disinformation on your social media platform. Who is going to decide this? The very same people who have lied and spread misinformation and disinformation themselves to their citizens. You people are going to be judge and jury over us. Are they not instilling fear into you.
?Many people in power use this tactic very effectively for one reason and one reason only, to remain in power and control over you. Narcissists use this fear tactic very effectively, they trigger your fear of abandonment you fear being ostracized and?to become an outcast. You become fearful of losing this magical person. What you don't realize the narcissist fears abandonment more than you do. They keep you off balance by instilling fear in you. You never walk behind the curtain and see him/her for who and what they really are. Is that not what is happening today with the people in power.?What is abandonment?
Abandonment is a term that can refer to different things depending on the context. In legal terms, abandonment refers to the act of relinquishing property or a right. In psychology, abandonment issues arise from the loss of a loved one, such as a parent, caregiver, or romantic partner, and may stem from a trauma such as a death or divorce. Emotional abandonment, where a parent or caregiver is physically present but emotionally absent, may also give rise to abandonment issues later in life.
?My point here my friends is, don't always pay attention to what a person "is" saying and doing, always pay very close attention to "what it is" the person is saying and doing. You will have a much clearer picture of their?thought process and true intent. ?Don't be fooled with all this fear mongering nonsense I am hearing day after day. It is not based in reality.
?Please support our Veterans, they gave so much for the freedoms many of you have taken advantage of. No Veteran should be living in the street cold and hungry. This must change in our country.
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In this article below it states fight or flight, that is wrong and ass end backwards. This should be the "flight or fight" response. The Limbic system has three protocols , freeze, flight or fight.
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Mental Well Being by Healthline
Amygdala Hijack: When Emotion Takes Over
To better understand what an amygdala hijack is, you'll need to understand a bit about how the brain functions. You'll also need to understand two specific parts of the brain: the amygdala and the frontal lobes.
Fight or flight
The amygdalae are clusters of almond-shaped cells located in the brains base. Everyone has two in each hemisphere. They define Trusted Source and regulate emotions, store memories, and attach those memories to specific emotions.
The amygdala also activates the fight-or-flight response. This response can help people in immediate physical danger react quickly for their safety and security. For example, the fight-or-flight response helped early humans respond to threats to avoid injury or death.
The amygdala activates this fight-or-flight response without any initiative from you. When that part of your brain senses danger, it signals your brain to pump stress hormones, preparing your body to either fight for survival or to flee to safety.
Today, that fight-or-flight response is more likely to be triggered by emotions such as stress, fear, anxiety, aggression, and anger.
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Frontal lobes
To understand what an amygdala hijack is, you need to know about a second part of the brain: the frontal lobes. These two, large areas are located at the front of your brain.
The front lobes are part of the brains cerebral cortex. This area of the brain regulates Trusted Source voluntary actions like reasoning, thinking, movement, decision-making, and planning. It is more rational than the amygdala.
The front lobes allow you to evaluate your emotions and then use your experiences and judgment to consciously respond. These reactions are not automatic, like the ones generated by the amygdala.
In the event of a physical threat, the amygdala may jump to the fight-or-flight response, but the front lobes process the information you're receiving to help you determine if the danger is real. If the danger isn't immediate, the frontal lobes help you decide what to do in response to the stress.
For mild or moderate threats, the frontal lobes can often override your amygdala so you can approach the situation rationally. But in the case of strong threats, the amygdala may trigger the fight-or-flight response.
For early humans, the fight-or-flight response was vital. The threat of physical harm was very real.
Today, however, you're more likely to experience psychological threats, such as the pressures and stress of modern life, work, and relationships. These emotions, too, can trigger the amygdala's fight-or-flight response.
Anger, aggression, fear, and stress are all common emotional triggers. They can cause sudden, illogical, and even irrational reactions.
In his 1995 book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, psychologist Daniel Goleman named this emotional overreaction to stress amygdala hijack. The amygdala hijack occurs when your amygdala responds to stress and disables your frontal lobes. That activates the fight-or-flight response and disables rational, reasoned responses. In other words, the amygdala hijacks control of your brain and your responses.
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Goleman was also responsible for popularizing the concept of emotional intelligence (EI). He explained how EI can help Trusted Source people manage their emotions and guide their behavior and thinking. Where amygdala hijack is natural and immediate, EI can help you regain control.
EI can also help you recognize the emotions of other people so that you can understand and influence them. However, Goleman's idea of EI emphasizes that individuals must first be aware of their own emotions and the feelings of people around them before they can use it for others.
What are the symptoms of an amygdala hijack?
The symptoms of an amygdala hijack are caused by the body's chemical response to stress. When you experience stress, your brain releases two kinds of stress hormones: cortisol and adrenaline. Both of these hormones, which are released by the adrenal glands, prepare your body to fight or to flee.
Together, these stress hormones do a number of things to your body in response to stress. They:
When these hormones are released, you may experience:
An amygdala hijack may lead to inappropriate or irrational behavior. After an amygdala hijack, you may experience other symptoms like embarrassment and regret.
How can you stop an amygdala hijack?
An amygdala hijack is an automatic response. Your body takes action without any conscious input from you.
However, that does not mean you will be unable to stop or prevent an amygdala hijack. It just takes a conscious effort to deactivate your amygdala and activate your frontal lobes, the part of your brain responsible for rational, logical thinking.
When you feel threatened or significantly stressed, acknowledge how your body feels and what it is doing. This is your body's flight-or-fight response. Take stock of your emotions and physical symptoms, if any. (In the beginning, this evaluation may have to occur after an episode, as stopping a hijack in the moment may be difficult.
Then, when you feel this response again, acknowledge it, and work to regain control. Remind yourself this is an automatic response, but not the most logical one.
When you have calmed down or feel less stressed, you can activate your frontal cortex. Begin by thinking about what activated the response, and how you felt. Then, consider responses you can and should have. These will be more thoughtful and rational responses. If you still feel emotional in the moment, give yourself more time.
During the height of a fight-or-flight response, breathing can be Trusted Source a powerful tool. Think about the speed of your breath, and work to slow it down. Find a calm, natural rhythm. Focus on how your body feels as you inhale and exhale.
After the response has passed, review what happened. Consider the triggers that led to the fight-or-flight response. When you recognize warning signs and triggers, you may be able to more easily handle the stress that leads to the response in the first place.
The best way to prevent an amygdala hijack is to understand what things trigger the reaction so you can avoid them. Alternatively, you can use practices like mindfulness to help you better control your bodys responses when you feel the reaction.
Emotional, mental, and even physical stress can trigger the amygdala's fight-or-flight response. When you begin to feel the symptoms of an amygdala hijack, pause. Take note of what you're feeling and what led you to this moment. Recognize any bodily changes you're experiencing.
Also, consider what triggered these feelings. Most peoples triggers will fall into the same general categories (stress, anger, aggression), but each persons triggers will be unique to them.
These are the beginning steps of a practice called mindfulness. Mindfulness helps Source you be more present and engaged in your responses and choices.
Through mindfulness, you can take stock of things like how you're feeling and what's stimulating you. You can learn to respond rationally and logically. This is another way of saying you can take control away from your amygdala and hand it back to your frontal cortex.
Mindfulness takes practice. It's easy to wander with your thoughts when you first try to focus on your body and feelings. But as with so many things, practice makes it easier.
Plus, it's important to practice these techniques regularly, not just when you're in a highly emotional state.
One way to help focus your mind during mindfulness practice is to actively control your breathing. Focus on inhaling and exhaling. Concentrate on how the air makes you feel in the moment and notice how your body moves in response to the air.
While you may find other ways to prevent an amygdala hijack, these two are the primary ways. Learning to avoid triggers can stop your amygdala from having a chance to overrule your emotional control. Mindfulness can help you slow and reverse the emotional responses.
Techniques to stop an amygdala hijack Reasoning. Once you have calmed your emotional response, you can use reasoning and logic to think through your situation. This way, you have options for how you will respond, and you can pick the one that best suits the situation, not one that fulfills an emotional reaction. Mindfulness. Use meditation or controlled breathing to focus your body's energy. This will help you respond to a threat or stress in a peaceful way. It will help you stop an amygdala hijack so you can retain control.