#951 - Dr Russell Kennedy - How To Fix Your Brain’s Addiction To Anxiety & Worry

Overview

This episode explores the pervasive issue of anxiety in modern life, delving into its roots, triggers, and mechanisms. Dr. Russell Kennedy explains the neuroscience behind anxiety, the role of childhood trauma, and practical strategies for managing and healing chronic anxiety. The conversation also touches on the differences in how anxiety manifests in men and women, the addictive nature of worry, and the importance of reconnecting with oneself to break free from the cycle of alarm and anxiety.

Notable Quotes

- People worry because what worry does, in my opinion, is it makes the uncertain appear more certain. Now that certainty can be abhorrent, but in our brains, we get that little dopamine hit from, 'Oh, I'm on the right track.' — Dr. Russell Kennedy, on the addictive nature of worry.

- In childhood, if a parent stops loving a child, the child doesn’t stop loving the parent. The child stops loving itself. — Alain de Botton, quoted by Chris Williamson, on the roots of self-reproach and anxiety.

- You can’t fix the mind with the mind. You have to use the body to fix the mind, at least the subconscious mind. — Dr. Russell Kennedy, on the importance of somatic therapy for anxiety.

🧠 The Neuroscience of Anxiety

- Anxiety is described as a combination of bodily alarm and worrisome thoughts, which feed into each other in a cycle called the alarm anxiety cycle.

- Childhood trauma or unresolved emotional wounds often create a state of alarm stored in the body, which manifests as anxiety later in life.

- The brain’s default mode network plays a key role in perpetuating negative self-appraisal and rumination, trapping individuals in cycles of worry.

- Dr. Kennedy emphasizes the importance of addressing the alarm in the body rather than solely focusing on cognitive therapy, which often treats symptoms rather than root causes.

🌪️ The Addictive Nature of Worry

- Worry provides a false sense of certainty, which can feel rewarding due to dopamine hits, even if the certainty is negative.

- This mechanism makes worry addictive, as it distracts individuals from deeper emotional alarms stored in the body.

- Over time, worry intensifies to keep up with the unresolved alarm, creating a self-reinforcing loop.

👶 Childhood Trauma and Its Lasting Impact

- Unrepaired childhood experiences of abuse, abandonment, or neglect often lead to heightened sensitivity to uncertainty and chronic anxiety.

- Dr. Kennedy explains that children often blame themselves for parental neglect or criticism, leading to self-reproach and separation from their inner child.

- Healing involves reconnecting with the younger self and addressing unresolved emotional wounds through somatic therapy and self-compassion.

🧍 Anxiety in Men vs. Women

- Anxiety manifests differently across genders: women often experience rumination and replay negative self-talk, while men tend to express anxiety as irritability or frustration.

- Men are less emotionally literate, which can hinder their ability to process feelings. Dr. Kennedy advocates for men’s groups and physical outlets like play or sports to release pent-up emotions.

- Tears are highlighted as an adaptive mechanism for emotional release, with Dr. Kennedy noting that men’s inability to cry may contribute to higher suicide rates.

🔄 Healing Chronic Anxiety

- Dr. Kennedy stresses the importance of somatic therapy, which focuses on addressing the alarm stored in the body rather than just cognitive symptoms.

- Techniques like breathing exercises, meditation, and reconnecting with the inner child are key to healing.

- Psychedelics are discussed as a potential tool for paralyzing the default mode network and accessing deeper emotional healing.

- Healing is framed as a process of reconnecting the adult self with the child self and integrating the mind and body.