{"id":6459,"date":"2015-12-22T05:45:31","date_gmt":"2015-12-22T10:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newvinegrowing.wordpress.com\/?p=6459"},"modified":"2019-06-07T13:38:05","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T17:38:05","slug":"negative-feelings-can-make-your-brain-feel-good","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.communify.me\/newvinegrowing\/negative-feelings-can-make-your-brain-feel-good\/","title":{"rendered":"Negative feelings can make your brain feel good, so fight back with better feel-good activities"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"hugging<\/a>
Research shows hugging is good for happiness.
Hug photo used under Creative Commons license, courtesy of Tania Cataldo<\/figcaption><\/figure>
\nThe holidays can be rough on people emotionally.
\nMaybe you feel guilty you can’t afford to visit family or give the generous gifts you’d like.
\nMaybe you’re worried about travel\u00a0or if you’ll fight with your family this year.
\nMaybe you’re sad because you’re missing someone you’ve lost.
\nAn article on Business Insider headlined “A neuroscience researcher reveals 4 rituals that will make you happier”<\/a> summarizes some key findings of\u00a0UCLA neuroscience researcher\u00a0Alex Korb<\/a>\u00a0and his book The Upward Spiral.
\nOne of the ideas that struck me: Guilt and shame\u00a0activate the brain’s reward center.<\/p>\n

Via\u00a0The Upward Spiral<\/a>:
\nDespite their differences, pride, shame, and guilt all activate similar neural circuits, including the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, amygdala, insula, and the nucleus accumbens. Interestingly, pride is the most powerful of these emotions at triggering activity in these regions \u2014 except in the nucleus accumbens, where guilt and shame win out. This explains why it can be so appealing to heap guilt and shame on ourselves \u2014 they’re activating the brain’s reward center.
\nAnd you\u00a0worry a lot, too. Why? In the short term, worrying makes your brain feel a little better \u2014 at least you’re doing\u00a0something<\/em>\u00a0about your problems.
\nVia\u00a0The Upward Spiral<\/a>:
\nIn fact, worrying can help calm the limbic system by increasing activity in the medial prefrontal cortex\u00a0and decreasing activity in the amygdala. That might seem counterintuitive, but it just goes to show that if you’re feeling anxiety, doing something about it \u2014 even worrying \u2014 is better than doing nothing.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So you aren’t a bad person if you fret, if you feel guilt, shame and anxiety, you’re doing something your brain perceives as taking action in the face of a problem.
\nWhat could you do instead?
\nKorb suggests gratitude, which boosts dopamine and serotonin in the brain, much as antidepressant drugs do. He also suggests naming your negative emotions rather than suppressing them.
\nHe also suggests touching people you care about. So take the time to hug your friends and family as you see them for the holidays.<\/p>\n

Via\u00a0The Upward Spiral<\/a>:
\nA hug, especially a long one, releases a neurotransmitter and hormone oxytocin, which reduces the reactivity of the amygdala.
\nResearch shows\u00a0getting five hugs a day for four weeks<\/a>\u00a0increases happiness big time.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I suggest you\u00a0read the full article<\/a>\u00a0to help prep for the holidays. If you pick up one tip that makes this year’s holidays a little happier for you, that’s worth a few minutes, right?
\nRelated blog posts:<\/strong><\/p>\n