Understanding Amygdala Hijacks
Catherine Lawson
Have you ever experienced the kind of intense emotional reaction that leaves you unable to remember anything that was said or done after the event? It can happen when we have an immediate, extreme response to something – an explosive argument, a flash of road rage, or a physical confrontation. In those moments, the overwhelming emotions can shut down the prefrontal cortex – the part of the brain responsible for rational thought and impulse control – leaving us unable to think clearly or respond in a measured way. So what’s actually going on in the brain when emotions hijack our ability to think straight?
It’s quite simple. When we’re faced with what the brain perceives to be a threat, the amygdala takes control – the amygdala being the part of the brain responsible for our fight or flight response. It’s often referred to as the reptilian part of the brain (though from an evolutionary perspective that’s not structurally correct) because it detects threats and processes fears – vital functions for survival in the animal (and human) world.
Unfortunately, however, the stresses of modern-day living can keep us in a heightened state of anxiety, resulting in the amygdala perceiving threats left, right and centre, whether they’re life threatening or not. Triggers like criticism, conflict, shame, trauma and rejection can all signal danger, and while they might not always result in an aggressive outward explosion, they’re most certainly doing some damage on the inside. There’s a spectrum of responses which includes everything from brain fog and memory loss – the kind of things which impact day to day cognitive functioning, leaving us feeling distracted and disconnected – to the more aggressive behaviours that can have long-term consequences.
Understanding what’s going on for someone when they’re experiencing an amygdala hijack can be really helpful not just for the individual under siege but also for those around them. Telling someone to calm down is pointless (and unwise at the best of times) and trying to out-shout someone or enforce some kind of control/discipline is completely counter-productive – it simply escalates the perception of danger. What can be helpful when you’re being hijacked is a quiet space to take a few deep breaths, a walk, splashing cold water on your face etc – grounding techniques which signal safety to the nervous system until such time as the pre-frontal cortex is back in play and you can once again think clearly.
As you’d expect, there’s more going on in our bodies when we’re in full survival mode than just the emotional and mental impact. When the amygdala activates, the adrenal glands respond by releasing a flood of stress hormones like adrenalin and cortisol – hormones which, like the amygdala, become our foe, not our friend, when they’re out of control. This causes a massive stress spike in the body which in turn tells the amygdala it’s in trouble all over again… and so the cycle goes. The very things which were designed to keep us safe and well become the things that threaten our wellbeing.
Finding ways to manage stress levels long-term is the key to breaking that toxic cycle. Whether it’s specialist support; meditating; walking in nature; spending time with the people we love; keeping our diet clean or avoiding toxic situations, the key is to find the sustainable strategies which help us keep our body and brain in check. And it’s vital that we do because left unchecked, repeated amygdala hijacks can quietly lead to damaged trust, broken relationships, workplace consequences, chronic stress, and a growing sense of regret that shapes the course of a person’s life.
