Precious Things

It’s the first day of school for many people today so I thought it was a good time for a science lesson! Are you excited? No?
How about neurobiology? For a few minutes we can all become medical students (without the crazy hours and insane pressure). Does that tickle your fancy a bit more?

There is this little almond-shaped part of your brain called the amygdala. Understanding the amygdala helps explain why people with PTSD think the way we do. I think that’s important.
Here it is. The small pink area.

From the minute you are born, the amygdala starts keeping you safe. It asks “Am I safe?” constantly. All day and all night long. It keeps you alive.
When it asks “Am I safe?”, your thinking brain (the frontal cortex) will do its job and answer “From what I see, taste, smell, feel/touch and hear, you are safe.” The…