About this episode

This episode explores the neuroscience of fear and how it can be managed and changed.

What if a single embarrassing moment could shape your behavior for decades? In this fascinating episode, Mike and Susan explore the neuroscience behind fear, anxiety, trauma, and PTSD—revealing how the brain creates powerful threat responses and, more importantly, how those responses can be changed. From childhood experiences that linger into adulthood to the biological mechanisms that drive fear-based behaviors, this conversation uncovers how the nervous system learns, adapts, and heals. You'll discover: • The biological differences between stress, anxiety, fear, and trauma • How the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis influence threat responses • Why the amygdala plays a central role in fear conditioning • The surprising connection between fear circuits and dopamine pathways • How one-trial learning can create lifelong fears in a matter of seconds • The science behind exposure therapy, CBT, and cognitive processing therapy • How ketamine and MDMA-assisted therapies are changing trauma treatment • A practical breathing protocol designed to improve stress resilience • Research-backed supplements that may help lower baseline anxiety • Why fear responses are not permanent—and how…

People in this episode

Hosts: Mike, Susan

Topics covered

• neuroscience
• fear
• anxiety
• trauma
• mental health
• treatment

Keywords

• fear responses
• neuroscience
• anxiety
• trauma
• exposure therapy
• cognitive processing therapy
• stress resilience
• ketamine
• MDMA

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HPA axis, amygdala, CBT, MDMA, ketamine, nervous system, trauma, anxiety, fear, PTSD

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