The fear center in your subconscious brain is called the amygdala.
New science shows that during fear/anxiety the number of GABA receptors on cells of the amygdale decline, thereby enabling fear to dominate in response to a stimuli.
Conversely, when there is no fear there are more GABA receptors.
This is an important study for several reasons.
First, it shows that when individuals have overcome any fear, by whatever means, they have actually changed the function of brain cells in their amygdale.
Secondly, using nutrition to support this process is realistic.
While fear can relate to any life topic I have been particularly interested in this subject in dealing with health issues.
For example, someone with chemical sensitivity develops a fear of chemicals which actually seems to makes exposures worse.
Someone with food allergies can develop a fear of food that actually seems to make them more allergic to more foods.
Someone with an undefined health problem can develop fear and anxiety about the problem to the point of making the problem worse.
This sort of thing happens all the time.
While there are various cognitive therapies that can be used to help desensitize fear, this new study implies that they work because they are conditioning nerves (like a form of exercise) to have more GABA receptors.
I often recommend to anyone with fear or anxiety issues to do a lot of hobbies with their hands as well as relaxing exercise, which all work towards the same objective of increasing GABA receptors.
GABA receptors and GABA brain status have to do with relaxation and the inhibition of nerve activation - acting like brakes on nerves so they don't get too excited or overheated.
In the overall context of your health balance, they are put of your rejuvenation and restoration system.
If you run low on them you are going to at least feel more agitated and irritated.
There are many nutritional options that can directly support the reduction of fear and anxiety.
Nutrients like L-theanine, taurine, quercetin, ashwaganda, and noni can support GABA receptors and GABA function.
Nutrients like DHA, pantethine, and phosphatidylserine can enhance the health of cell membranes in your brain so that they can respond better (not stay stuck in old patterns).
Through a combination of nutrition, hobbies, exercise, and as needed cognitive therapy a person can approach this problem from multiple angles and will see gradual but steady improvement over time as their overall supply of GABA receptors is replenished and assisted to function better.
Life skills that help create more stability in general are synergistic with this strategy, whereas an overload of stress and a pile of "unsolvable" problems that make a person feel overwhelmed or unstable will magnify fear and anxiety issues.
This information offers a science-based path to changing your brain so that you have more confidence to participate in life.