Module Eight: Modifying Emotions

Abstract

When we are under stress, the amygdala initiates the release of stress hormones into our brain. These stress hormones can weaken areas in the brain including the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, which play important roles in our ability to use problem-solving techniques to modify our emotions. If, however, through weakened prefrontal and hippocampal functioning, we lose our ability to modify our emotions, we likely feel helpless and out of control. Since feelings of helplessness and out of control are crucial cues for the amygdala to sound the danger alarm bell that things are not going well, the release of more stress hormones is initiated, which results in even further loss of emotion modification capacities. This vicious cycle can be interrupted or prevented with ART Skill #7—Modifying Emotions.