3- Rewiring Anxiety- The role of the amygdala in learning to be anxious - The Anxiety Cycle 3/30 (Therapy in a Nutshell)

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZeZQvyxyyU&list=PLiUrrIiqidTVqab7pZivzb-e-tMA8qjd-&index=4

Correct answer: C. Detecting threats and triggering fear responses

Explanation:
The amygdala is described as the brain’s “fire alarm,” responsible for quickly detecting potential threats and activating fear or anxiety responses.

According to the video, what is the primary role of the amygdala?

A. Storing long-term memories
B. Regulating language and speech
C. Detecting threats and triggering fear responses
D. Controlling voluntary movement

Correct answer: B. Fight-or-flight system is triggered

Explanation:
When a threat is perceived, the amygdala triggers the sympathetic nervous system, activating the fight/flight/freeze response.

What happens in the body immediately after a threat is perceived?

A. Parasympathetic nervous system activates
B. Fight-or-flight system is triggered
C. Dopamine levels increase
D. Logical reasoning takes control

Correct answer: C. Parasympathetic activation

Explanation:
Once safety is recognized, the parasympathetic nervous system restores calm through relaxation, social connection, and physiological regulation.

Which response helps restore a sense of safety after a threat is resolved?

A. Continued vigilance
B. Avoidance of all similar situations
C. Parasympathetic activation
D. Increased rumination

Correct answer: C. She repeatedly avoided perceived threats

Explanation:
Avoidance provided short-term relief, which reinforced the brain’s belief that rustling sounds were dangerous, increasing anxiety over time.

Why did Megan’s anxiety about bears increase over time at the beginning of the story?

A. She lacked accurate information about bears
B. Her amygdala was permanently damaged
C. She repeatedly avoided perceived threats
D. She was genetically predisposed to anxiety

Correct answer: C. Danger was prevented by avoidance

Explanation:
Because avoidance is followed by relief, the brain learns that avoidance “saved” the person, reinforcing anxiety.

What does avoidance teach the brain?

A. The situation is manageable
B. Anxiety is unnecessary
C. Danger was prevented by avoidance
D. The fear response is inaccurate

Correct answer: B. It prevents the amygdala from reassessing safety

Explanation:
Avoidance prevents the brain from learning that the situation is safe, keeping the fear response active.

According to the video, why is avoidance problematic for anxiety recovery?

A. It increases physical exhaustion
B. It prevents the amygdala from reassessing safety
C. It weakens memory formation
D. It eliminates emotional awareness

Correct answer: C. Her brain reclassified rustling sounds as safer

Explanation:
By facing the fear and surviving safely, Megan’s brain updated its threat assessment and reduced anxiety.

What happened when Megan faced her fear during the hike?

A. Her anxiety permanently disappeared
B. She confirmed bears were extremely dangerous
C. Her brain reclassified rustling sounds as safer
D. Her fear response became stronger

Correct answer: C. Facing fears increases confidence and reduces anxiety

Explanation:
Approaching feared situations builds confidence, which restores a sense of safety and reduces anxiety over time.

What is the relationship between facing fears and confidence?

A. Facing fears decreases confidence initially and permanently
B. Confidence decreases as anxiety decreases
C. Facing fears increases confidence and reduces anxiety
D. Confidence is unrelated to fear exposure

Correct answer: B. Feelings cannot be directly controlled

Explanation:
The video emphasizes that feelings cannot be forced to change; action must come first for learning to occur.

Why can’t someone wait for anxiety to disappear before facing a fear?

A. Anxiety is permanent
B. Feelings cannot be directly controlled
C. The amygdala stops working
D. Fear disappears only after avoidance

Correct answer: C. It primes the brain for change

Explanation:
Strong emotions increase neural plasticity, allowing the brain to rewire threat associations more effectively.

How does anxiety contribute to brain plasticity during exposure?

A. It prevents learning
B. It damages neural connections
C. It primes the brain for change
D. It shuts down emotional processing

Correct answer: C. Gradually approaching the fear

Explanation:
Repeated safe exposure allows the brain to learn that public speaking is not dangerous, reducing anxiety.

In the public speaking example, what leads to reduced anxiety over time?

A. Avoiding presentations
B. Distracting oneself
C. Gradually approaching the fear
D. Suppressing anxious thoughts

Correct answer: C. Disordered anxiety involves feeling unsafe when safe

Explanation:
Disordered anxiety occurs when the brain signals danger in situations that are objectively safe.

How does the video distinguish real danger from disordered anxiety?

A. Real danger never causes anxiety
B. Disordered anxiety occurs only after trauma
C. Disordered anxiety involves feeling unsafe when safe
D. Real danger requires no action

Correct answer: B. She learned she could handle real danger

Explanation:
Successfully responding to real danger increased confidence and improved threat assessment accuracy.

Why did Emma’s confidence increase after the moose encounter?

A. She avoided all wilderness afterward
B. She learned she could handle real danger
C. Her anxiety completely disappeared
D. The experience erased fear memories

Correct answer: C. Immobilization and avoidance

Explanation:
Being frozen and avoiding action prevents resolution of the fear response, maintaining anxiety.

What keeps the anxiety cycle “open”?

A. Immediate physical danger
B. Action and choice
C. Immobilization and avoidance
D. Social connection

Correct answer: C. Increased confidence through action

Explanation:
Confidence—built by facing fears and taking action—is described as the key factor that restores internal safety.

According to the video, what ultimately restores a sense of safety?

A. Eliminating all fear
B. Avoiding uncertainty
C. Increased confidence through action
D. Constant reassurance

Correct answer: C. Freeze

Explanation:
The video explains that anxiety becomes disordered when a person feels threatened while being physically or behaviorally immobilized, which corresponds to the freeze response.

Which response is described as occurring when a person feels anxious but is physically immobilized?

A. Fight
B. Flight
C. Freeze
D. Parasympathetic recovery

Correct answer: C. Worrying and rumination

Explanation:
Emma explicitly states that worrying and rumination are forms of avoidance, even though they happen internally rather than behaviorally.

Which of the following is identified as a form of mental avoidance?

A. Running away from danger
B. Practicing a presentation
C. Worrying and rumination
D. Facing feared situations gradually

Correct answer: C. Distracting oneself with TikTok

Explanation:
Distraction is described as a way to avoid anxiety, which prevents action and keeps the anxiety loop open.

In the test-anxiety example, what behavior keeps the anxiety cycle active?

A. Studying for the test
B. Using anxiety as motivation
C. Distracting oneself with TikTok
D. Preparing gradually

Correct answer: C. They help complete the stress response

Explanation:
These behaviors are described as natural ways the body resolves fight/flight/freeze activation and returns to a sense of safety.

Why does telling stories, laughing, or shaking help after a fear response?

A. They erase fear memories
B. They distract from danger
C. They help complete the stress response
D. They suppress emotional reactions

Correct answer: C. Taking action that increases confidence

Explanation:
The video emphasizes that confidence—built through action—is what allows threat re-evaluation and restoration of safety.

What is the key factor that allows the brain to re-evaluate a perceived threat?

A. Eliminating all anxiety
B. Avoiding uncertainty
C. Taking action that increases confidence
D. Reassurance from others alone

Correct answer: C. Accuracy in determining real danger

Explanation:
A healthy person still experiences fear, but their threat assessment system is accurate in determining when fear is warranted.

According to the video, what distinguishes a healthy fear system from an unhealthy one?

A. Complete absence of fear
B. Constant vigilance
C. Accuracy in determining real danger
D. Genetic resistance to anxiety

Correct answer: C. As energy that can be used for preparation

Explanation:
Anxiety is reframed as energy signaling care and motivation, which can be redirected into preparation and practice.

How is anxiety reframed in the public-speaking example?

A. As a sign of danger
B. As something to eliminate immediately
C. As energy that can be used for preparation
D. As evidence of failure

Correct answer: B. Gradual steps build confidence over time

Explanation:
Small, manageable steps increase confidence, allowing anxiety to decrease progressively as the brain updates its threat assessment.

Why is gradual exposure emphasized rather than jumping into the most feared situation?

A. The brain cannot learn from large challenges
B. Gradual steps build confidence over time
C. Fear disappears faster with avoidance
D. Strong anxiety prevents learning

Correct answer: C. It helps regulate the nervous system

Explanation:
Connecting with others helps activate parasympathetic regulation, supporting the return to safety after stress.

What role does social connection play in restoring safety?

A. It prevents future fear responses
B. It replaces the amygdala’s function
C. It helps regulate the nervous system
D. It eliminates the need for exposure

Correct answer: C. Avoidance combined with lack of action

Explanation:
Anxiety persists when avoidance prevents action, leaving the fear response unresolved and the sense of safety unrecovered.

What ultimately keeps anxiety from resolving, according to the video?

A. High intelligence
B. Strong emotions
C. Avoidance combined with lack of action
D. Exposure to real danger