The Neuroscience of Fear - Understanding anxiety, trauma & tools to overcome fears (Lessons from NPD, BPD and ADHD)

Anxiety is built into all our brains, examining the role of trauma in building fear responses helps us understand how to combat fear. We can also learn how trauma manifests in General Anxiety Disorder, Borderline (BPD), Narcissism (NPD) and ADHD. By studying the neuroscience of how fear and anxiety work in the brain we understand how life events and trauma shape our perceptions. To overcome the different fears we can learn from strategies required for individuals with specific disorders relating to fear to reduce their emotional reactions. Fear is controlled by 4 main areas in the brain, the Amygdala, the hippocampus, the Pre-Frontal Cortex and the Hypothalamus. They can keep us healthy, alive, and functioning normally. But different life events can cause them to become impaired or over-active in subtle ways causing much greater levels of fear and irrational behaviours. The episode explores how fears hold us back and the specific chemistry and biology to creates it and techniques we can learn to rebalance our brain towards more rational thinking and level responses. Tune in to learn how understanding fear can help you master your own mind and improve your life. Upgrade to Premium: 🏖️ Ad-free listening 🤘 Support the show 🔓 Exclusive AMAs and bonus content 💬 Community Discord GrowthMindset.Supercast.com Sponsors: 🥙 😋 Factor: 50% off - code GROWTHMINDSET50 - FactorMeals.com/GrowthMindset50 🔗 🐷 PorkBun: .PRO domain for $1 - code BeAPro24 - PorkBun.com/GrowthMindset24 Recommended Books Our Polyvagal World - Stephen & Seth Porges The Body Keeps the Score - Bessel Van Der Kolk Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway - Susan Jeffers Related Episodes The Secrets of Curiosity without Worry: Building Inner-peace with Stephen Porges - 16th Aug 2024 The Psychology of Fear, Security & Emotional Intelligence: The Nueroscience of Polyvagal Theory - 13th Aug 2024 Doing the Difficult Thing: Dr Niall McCann - Director National Park Rescue - 13th June 2019 Meet Sam Free Call - Schedule Link Growth Mindset Psychology: Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. Watch - YouTube (Growth Mindset) Website - GrowthMindsetPodcast.com Chapters: 00:00 Exploring the Neuroscience of Fear 03:14 The Brain's Fear Circuitry 06:16 The Role of Neuroception 09:43 The Four Core Fears 12:21 Trauma and Its Impact on Fear 19:41 Understanding General Anxiety Disorder 22:13 Techniques for Managing Anxiety and Fear 25:51 Understanding Borderline Personality Disorder 27:13 The Neuroscience Behind BPD 31:20 Understanding Narcissistic Personality Disorder 33:10 Lessons on Ego for All of Us 36:44 ADHD and the Struggle to Mange Fear and Focus 39:19 Strategies for Harnessing ADHD &Personal Experiences 45:12 Concluding Thoughts on Fear Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Most self-help advice is guesswork dressed up as wisdom. We dig into psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science to find what actually changes lives. WHY LISTEN? Over 8 million downloads because we answer the questions that matter: How do I build mental strength? What creates lasting motivation? How can I understand my own mind well enough to work with it, not against it? This podcast is for curious skeptics who want frameworks backed by psychology studies, not Instagram quotes. Whether you're navigating procrastination, building self-discipline, or designing your own philosophy for a life well lived—we explore the hidden psychology behind real change. WHAT YOU'LL GET Mental models and simple techniques from cognitive psychology, positive psychology, and ancient wisdom traditions like Stoicism and Buddhism. Being a human can be confusing, learning about it doesn’t have to be. We cover everything from emotional intelligence and habit formation to brain health and the nervous system. WHAT YOU DON’T GET No pseudoscience. No oversimplified "hacks." No hustle porn. Just practical insights on mindset improvement, self-development, and human psychology that respect your intelligence and mental health. THE APPROACH Instead of telling you what to think, we explore how thinking works. Armed with psychology studies, social science research, and relentless curiosity, we uncover the mechanics of belief change, attitude change, and personal development. Success is personal. You might want to leverage your neurodiverse strengths, build a business, or simply discover how to be happier. We provide the mental frameworks to pursue your definition of success with mental strength and self-care that fits your life. YOUR HOST I'm Sam Webster Harris—a lifelong learner with ADHD and an obsession with finding answers to hard questions. After launching businesses, traveling the world, and nearly dying a few times, I concluded that psychology and science are where real wisdom lives. This show is my excuse to dive deep into health and fitness research, behavioral psychology, and cool science while helping you build genuine self-discipline and motivation. PREMIUM Go ad-free and access exclusive content, AMAs, and our community Discord. Growth Mindset Premium PAST SERIES Previous guests include Olympians, Scientists, Billionaires, and Sam's Mum. Past series: — Psychology vs Stoicism — Time Management for Busy Mortals — Independence and Knowing Yourself — Cognitive Biases and Rational Thinking — Psychology of Connection and Relationships — Carol Dweck and the Multiverse of Mindsets — Addiction and Behaviour Change — Nervous System Mastery and Polyvagal Theory — Mental Strength and Self-Discipline