{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Alcohol Minimalist: Mindful Drinking & Behavior Change","title":"Think Thursday: Chronic Stress- How it Affects Your Brain ","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":943,"description":"\nEpisode Summary:\nIn this Think Thursday episode, host Molly Watts explores the profound impact of chronic stress on the brain and its implications for behavior change. Molly delves into the role of the amygdala, the brain's stress responder, and how \"amygdala hijacking\" can derail rational thinking and decision-making. Drawing on concepts from her book Breaking the Bottle Legacy and the insights of Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, Molly explains the science behind chronic stress and offers actionable strategies to manage it effectively. Whether you're working on your relationship with alcohol or tackling other habits, this episode is packed with insights to help you re-engage your logical brain and make intentional choices.\nWhat You'll Learn in This Episode:\nThe Role of the Amygdala:How the amygdala processes emotions, especially fear and anxiety.\nThe concept of \"amygdala hijacking\" and its impact on rational thinking.\nChronic Stress and Its Effects:How chronic stress keeps the amygdala in a state of heightened alertness.\nThe ways chronic stress impairs the prefrontal cortex, making it harder to think clearly and resist impulses.\nBehavior Change and Chronic Stress:How stress interferes with the Behavior Map-Results Cycle from Breaking the Bottle Legacy.\nThe importance of recognizing and addressing learned stress patterns.\nActionable Strategies to Manage Chronic Stress:Mindfulness and Cognitive Reframing: Learn to reframe stress-driven thoughts constructively.\nDeep Breathing: Activate your parasympathetic nervous system with a simple breathing exercise.\nPhysical Activity: Discover how movement reduces stress hormones and boosts endorphins.\nConnection: Understand the power of social support in accessing your logical brain.\nThis Week’s Action Step:\nChoose one stress-reducing practice to implement daily this week. Molly recommends starting with deep breathing:\nInhale for 4 counts, hold for 4 counts, and exhale for 6 counts.\nAs you breathe, scan your body for tension and...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/zu3PtA3XzNKb2qSH95OKvfAaoixqds182Hao41kpkws/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZjY5/NjVmY2Y2MGQ0NmMx/NGNiMzdiZGY0OTMz/OWQzMy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}