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You need to know about your amygdala – really!

Let me introduce you to the significant cause of what trips us up emotionally, a part of our brain called our amygdala. The word amygdala has its origins in both Greek and Latin and means almond. The amygdala is shaped like an almond, and we each have two of them in our brain.

The amygdala is a vital part of our brain, and plays a fundamental role in ensuring our survival. It warns us of imminent danger, and instigates immediate action so that we can protect ourselves. If we step onto the road, and a car appears out of nowhere, hurtling towards us, we jump out of the way without thinking. If a fire alarm goes off in the building, we immediately run for the fire escape.

However sometimes our amygdalae get it wrong. They set off a false alarm, to which we react, but in this case it’s inappropriate, because it’s not really a life-threatening situation. For example, have you ever said something or done something in the heat of the moment, without thinking, and almost immediately regretted it. You’ve probably said to yourself: ‘I wish I hadn’t done that’. That’s The Almond Effect®.

You receive an SMS, Tweet or email from someone that makes you angry, irritated, and upset. You instantly write your reply and hit the send button, only to regret it moments later. It’s your ‘almonds’ again!

Or your partner says: “Oh. That’s a new dress.” To which you snap back: ‘It’s my money, what’s your problem? Does it make me look fat?’

Or a customer says: “I think you have this wrong ma’am”. You wince and snarl back: ‘Don’t call me ma’am’, and then you realise he’s in navy uniform. That’s how the military are trained to address women as a sign of respect!

Or your boss says: “I’ve been looking for you. Can you come and see me for a minute?’ and your heart starts to race!

Our amygdalae have a lot to answer for. They keep us safe from threats to our survival, but they can also get us into heaps of trouble.