The Neuroscience Behind Anxiety

Introduction

Do you feel very anxious when you walk into your classroom knowing that you have a test that day? A common feeling that I am sure is not unusual to you and many others, including myself, is being anxious. This emotion continues to come up whenever I have a presentation and I am sure that we all have wondered, “why do I get nervous sending a text?” Well, this comes from anxiety and the science behind it!

What is Anxiety?

Of course I cannot explain the science behind anxiety if I do not give you some background about the emotion that haunts us all. According to the American Psychological Association, anxiety is “An emotion characterized by apprehension and somatic symptoms of tension in which an individual anticipates impending danger, catastrophe, or misfortune.” Say you are stressing about studying for a test; that feeling is short-term and therefore it is not anxiety. Anxiety is something that lingers. I actually learned this recently from my most recent podcast episode, and to me, it actually pieces together when I look back at all my stressful moment. Anxiety is different than anxiety disorders because, just like stress, anxiety is an emotion in response to something, so you can think of it as short-term. Anxiety disorders are long-term because they are when anxious feelings continue to pop up.

The Brain's Involvement in Anxiety

While all that background stuff is great, what is the real science around it? The brain is involved in many ways as it signals our body to react. There was one part of the brain that I always remembered in psychology class when I could not remember the other structures of the brain; it is the…AMYGDALA! What does the amygdala do? I learned to recall it as a panic button that signals your body that you are in DANGER! Thanks to the mnemonic device, panic button, I was able to remember the amygdala and share it with you all. Think about a situation where a lion is in front of you. Are you going to start walking towards it or run away from it? This is known as the fight or flight response and it is caused by the amygdala. This response can appear when you are potentially in danger and each reaction causes changes in the body. Furthermore, Russel D Romeo states that the fight or flight response releases many hormones, such as the stress hormone cortisol, and this can affect teens more than you may think. Teens are constantly developing. and areas of our brain that are sensitive to stress can become vulnerable to stress reactivity. Additionally, he states teens will experience increased stress hormone release and this can affect areas of the brain that are developing. (Romeo) Now, when we think back to the fight or flight response, we know that it can already release a stress hormone, this is why stress feels so heavy on teens because they already have an increase in these hormones. This goes for other responses caused by the amygdala or other parts of our brain that release stress hormones. The main point I want to make is that you may think you are crazy stressing out so much but it's just all the stress hormones piling together that makes it seem that way and it is not your fault. You are probably thinking, what does the amygdala or the fight or flight response have to do with talking about anxiety? The amygdala is only one of the many parts of our brain that can take part in anxiety. The amygdala and fight or flight response are known to create anxious emotions, and that is how it is relevant!

My Personal Tips For Anxiety

It’s easier said than done to confront anxiety and I know because I used to struggled with it more than I do now. I want to share some tips that I continue to apply when I have moments of anxiousness. I think that what helped me the most is I tried to stop thinking negatively about everything. I get so anxious talking and standing up in front of others. I used to avoid it every chance I got… Now, I focus on getting used to using my communication skills and seeing talking in front of others as a chance of growth. My second tip that seems overlooked is breathing techniques. Okay, yes. I know they might not seem helpful, but DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. Next time you are feeling overwhelmed, take a few deep breathes and you will see!

Conclusion

To quickly recap. the amygdala and fight or flight response are key points of what goes on in our brain that cause us to feel anxious. It’s normal for everyone to feel anxious and do not let that bring you down! I hope that you all stay engaged in learning more about your mental well-being. I cannot wait to continue learning about neuroscience and mental health with you all. I know that school is starting soon, and maybe some of you have already started, but I wish you all luck. I know I definitely have to get my sleep schedule on track. Thank you guys for reading and please look forward to my next posts! Remember you are not alone.

Works Cited

“Anxiety.” American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/topics/anxiety. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Romeo, Russell D. “The Teenage Brain: The Stress Response and the Adolescent Brain.” Current Directions in Psychological Science, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Apr. 2013, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4274618/.