by Ariel Huff 

These are topics I’ve spent my life researching, for my teaching and counseling as well as in my private life for family, friends, and myself. When I stumble on something new or well articulated, I love to share it.

Recently on the Bloomberg channel, a group of scientists in the field of emotions were discussing cutting edge experiments and new conclusions being drawn from those. Part of the exciting news was that fear, particularly, had been tracked to specific places in the brain, making it more easily understood and treated.

With great clarity, the specialists divided fear and anxiety into two basic classes: 1) situational anxiety like phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder and 2) chronic and generalized anxiety. Reassuringly, they expressed that each kind saw improvement with treatment specific to its needs.

Situational fear and anxiety, according to these experts, did well with the psycho-therapeutic method of exposure (used in treatments like flooding or EMDR) when done in a careful manner so as not to increase fear. This means progressively facing a fear trigger like memories of a trauma or heights, spiders, and public speaking with the appropriate support to make it seem safe at each phase. The point was made that fear responses to a stimulus can be “unconditioned”—removed as reactions.

According to members of the consortium, chronic or generalized fear/anxiety responds well to drugs which calm the amygdala (two almond-shaped parts of the brain, nestled deeply within both hemispheres). I liked the imagery of this part of the brain as a cat—either purring and limply relaxed or with back arched and hissing. In this context, the group noted that aggression and guilt can be secondary results of a heightened fear response. They also stressed that certain things have been shown to cause this second type of anxiety. Especially emphasized was trauma in childhood as effects of that are much harder to eradicate than those experienced later in life. However, living under stress for extended periods puts anyone at more risk for developing fear-related emotional problems. (So, people with dangerous jobs or in war zones, for example, would be more vulnerable, generally.)

Although only drugs were mentioned as curative for chronic anxiety, my reading and experience show that many things can help to tame the hissing amygdala into one that sleeps peacefully. Deepak Chopra was recently listing these factors on an interview with Jon Stewart. Acupuncture, massage, and aroma therapy are items I recall, but many studies have also shown the curative effects of meditation, yoga, exercise, positive companionship, and a nurturing diet—one that eliminates stress triggers like caffeine, sugar, excess alcohol, MSG and other additives, or those that arouse sensitivity in many people like dairy and wheat. Imagery (purring kitty amygdala?) and relaxation tapes are two of my favorite de-stressors. Letting Go of Stress is a four-part CD by Emmett Miller that was initially used (successfully) in a University of Washington research project on anxiety.

A final encouraging piece from the professionals: Only 20% of us become stuck in fear to the point of dysfunction, though we all are “hardwired” to feel it. Overall, most of us “soldier on” in the face of discomfort, and that’s as good a definition for “healthy” as we’re likely to get!

Ariele Huff teaches writing classes through North Seattle, Cascadia, and Everett community colleges, the UW Women's Center, Edmonds Parks Department, and at the Greenwood Senior Center (all ages can attend). E-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a current class list.