Читать книгу Where Did That Come From?: How to Keep Control In Any Situation - Anne Boone's Riches - Страница 6

Why do we experience The Almond Effect®?

In our limbic system, the amygdala is responsible for our feelings of fear. It functions as a kind of psychological sentinel, scanning every situation with only one survival question in mind: ‘is this going to hurt me?’

It’s the basic survival mechanism that sets off our fight or flight mechanism. It served us well when we were becoming human, coming down from trees and living in caves. The trouble is it’s still functioning in much the same way today.

The limbic system also stores our emotional memories. It has what I call a database of ‘nasty things’, and is constantly checking, in every situation: is this something that could harm me? Something that I should fear? If the answer is ‘yes’, then the amygdala instantaneously triggers our survival response.

When this happens, your heart rate suddenly races, your muscles tense, your palms feel sweaty, and you might even feel sick. This is because your amygdala, having sensed a threat, signals other parts of the brain to prepare your body to fight off the threat, or flee, i.e. run like mad in the opposite direction. Adrenaline surges through your bloodstream, priming you for survival. This is known as the “fight or flight” reaction.