Neuroplasticity: Hope For People With Anxiety?

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Isn’t it something to think that we have the power & the ability to change our brain by using the power of neuroplasticity? The latest studies in brain research have shown that the brain is actually malleable and many researchers are finding out what is required for the brain to change and what can be done to enhance neuroplasticity. Just thinking that we can physically alter our brain’s structure and change how it functions is an amazing feeling and makes the future for sufferers of neurological conditions a much brighter one.

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“The mind acts like an enemy
for those who don’t control it.”
-Bhagavad Gita

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We went through what Neuroplasticity is in previous articles but for those who haven’t read my articles I will briefly cover this wonderful new concept in neurological research. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to adapt. It was once thought that the brain was unable to regenerate but after many studies, it was learned that the brain was more flexible than we thought was possible. We learned that the brain is always changing because it is constantly trying to optimize itself. It reorganizes itself by transferring cognitive abilities from one lobe to the other. They found that after a stroke the brain can reorganize itself to move functions to undamaged areas. This is such fantastic news.

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According to an article called ”Brain plasticity; Rewiring the brain” by Rupinder Bajwa (https://blog.cognifit.com/brain-plasticity-rewiring-brain) “There are many different definitions and explanations of brain plasticity. It is referred to as the brain’s ability to reorganize itself and form new connections throughout life. Brain plasticity allows the brain to adapt to disease or injury, by allowing neurons to adjust their activity in response to new situations or changes to the environment. Learning new things or processing/memorizing information cause lasting functional changes to the brain. These changes in neural connections is essentially brain plasticity. Changes in neural pathways is a result of changes in environment, behavior, thinking, emotions and neural processes. The brain’s ability to reorganize itself and form neural connections is what makes the brain resilient. Brain plasticity enables the brain to overcome stroke, injury, birth abnormalities, learning disabilities, depression, addiction, obsessive thought patterns and other brain defects.”

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This article went on to state that there are many different types of brain plasticity. There are Positive Brain Plasticity that enhance healthy functions, Negative Brain Plasticity that does unhealthy functions, Synaptic Plasticity which functions between neurons, Non-Synaptic Plasticity which functions within the neuron, Developmental Plasticity that happens during early life which is an important stage since it facilitates our ability to function, & Injury Induced Plasticity where the brain goes through the process of adapting to trauma.

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“Among other things, neuroplasticity means that
emotions such as happiness and compassion can be cultivated
in much the same way that a person can learn through repetition
to play golf and basketball or master a musical instrument,
and that such practice changes the activity
and physical aspects of specific brain areas.”
-Andrew Weil, M.D.

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The Positive Brain Plasticity works toward improving the efficiency of the brain’s neural networks for higher cognitive functions like attention, memory, mood. An example of this process is when we repeatedly practice our times table or ABCs. Eventually this constant practice makes neuro connections between different parts of the brain and with repetition, the connections become stronger. This is why meditation and practicing mindfulness can help facilitate brain plasticity.

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The Negative Brain Plasticity can also happen when we focus on things that may be harmful to us. If we always think negative thoughts, we are actually making the brain make connections associated with depression and anxiety. That is why the overuse of drugs and alcohol is bad because it actually enhances negative plasticity.

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“Our brains renew themselves throughout life
to an extent previously thought not possible.”
-Michael S. Gazzaniga

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The Synaptic Plasticity according to the article stated that it is the basis for learning and memory. “It also alters the number of receptors on each synapse so when we learn new information and skills, these connections get stronger.” This connection can go either the enhancement/excitation way which strengthens the connection or the depression way that weakens the connection. So because synaptic plasticity is responsible for learning and retention, if this connection goes wrong, it can have negative consequences.

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The Non-Synaptic Plasticity is not well understood at this time so I will move on to the Developmental Plasticity which is primarily most active during our early years, but it does occur throughout life. During this time, our neural connections are constantly changing due to new and changing childhood experiences. We have all types of sensory inputs to our brain which processes everything and makes changes accordingly so there are changes in how the brain processes information, changes in synaptic connections and other changes to make the brain more efficient.

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“The brain simply believes what you tell it most.
And what you tell it about you,
it will create. It has no choice.”
-Shad Helmstetter

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The Injury Induced Plasticity comes into play when after an injury, it takes over a given function that is damaged due to injury. An example is the stroke patient who regains some functions that were lost due to brain damage. The brain has two ways in which it attempts to restore function: Recovery & Function. According to ”Brain plasticity; Rewiring the brain” “Recovery involves restoring the neural tissue, the behavior it controlled, as well as recovering the level of activity of the behavior. Compensation is the brains way of compensating for the injury. Compensation for the injury involves recruiting new neural networks to take over functions the damaged areas were responsible for.”

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This article concluded stating that “there are products available to help patients improve brain plasticity and train the brain tissue to help recover after brain injury. In a nut shell, brain plasticity on the whole is a wonderful thing! Our brains possess the fascinating ability to adapt to pretty much any situation that is thrown at it!"

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In another article by Big Think (http://bigthink.com/think-tank/brain-exercise) called, “Neuroplasticity: You Can Teach An Old Brain New Tricks,” they talked about Dr. Dennis Charney, Dean of the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, who has studied how the brain responded to significant changes in the environment of prisoners of war. These prisoners were placed in solitary confinement for a long period and during this time, developed unusual cognitive capacities because the only thing they were allowed to do was think, since they were confined. Dr. Charney theorized that the POWs were essentially exercising their brains and thus feels that with psychological therapies there is the possibility to improve learning and memory and to also solve the problems of anxiety and depression.

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“We control with our own minds most everything in our lives,
including our health, our careers, our relationships, and our futures.”
-Shad Helmstetter

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All of the above shows us that there are real possibilities, where those with anxiety, may be helped with the intervention of neuroplasticity. After reading many articles on this subject, it seems that in order to live a life free from anxiety, begins with us understanding why we keep experiencing it over and over again like a broken record. It seems that, just like any skill or learned behavior that is repeated over and over, soon becomes easier to do with each repeat incident. It almost becomes automatic in an effortless and unconscious manner.

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So it would make sense then, that a life where stresses, worries, anxieties keep repeating, eventually the body and brain learn to react a certain way, like having a headache, aches and pains, difficulty breathing, having a panic attack, etc. It becomes more efficient at going back to these responses. The more you have these experiences, the easier it can return again and again. Usually this results in a constant feeling like always being on the edge, with the body feeling a bit anxious. Eventually this can become a habitual feeling of anxiety. That is no way to live a life of happiness and peace.

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“In the past two decades, research has revealed
that the brain has a surprising level of neuroplasticity,
meaning an ability to change its structures and reorganize its patterns of reacting.”
-Catherine M. Pittman

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Wouldn’t it be a wonderful endeavor, to try to change the way we think, so that our brains can make new circuits that lead to more positive areas of well-being and less anxiety? With this new concept of Neuroplasticity it is never too late to change or learn. Maybe an old dog can learn new tricks after all!!!

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I will continue to explore ways in which we can use some concepts of neuroplasticity to achieve more peace and less anxiety. The following articles will be a journey to look at some interventions and/or activities that may help. I hope you will continue on this journey with me. Thank-you for reading my article on Neuroplasticity: Hope For People With Anxiety? If you would like to follow me, please check HERE.

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