“What’s wrong?” “Why are you always so sad?” “Why do you always blame everything on someone else?”
Have you ever found yourself asking these questions or hearing them from someone close to you? If these conversations are part of your daily life, there’s a deeper story behind this persistent discontent. While science is still unraveling the complexities of this emotional state, we at In the Cortex can help you make sense of it.
When your brain is stuck in a state of dysphoria, it’s the exact opposite of euphoria. Dysphoria is characterized by a constant sense of irritability, upset, and agitation. While the precise causes are still being studied, understanding this state from an In the Cortex perspective can be enlightening.
What is Dysphoric Mood?
A quick Google search for “Dysphoric Mood” yields a list of symptoms:
Emotional States:
- Intense discontent
- Intense unhappiness
- Irritability
- Anger
Cognitive Features:
- Tending to blame others
- Being suspicious or paranoid
- Having delusions
Behavioral Elements:
- Agitation
- Aggression
- Violent outbursts
Dysphoria is often seen as a milder form of depression, a mixed mood, or a mood on the bipolar spectrum distinct from mania or depression.
Validating Your Experience
First and foremost, we want to assure you that your feelings, or those of a loved one, are entirely valid. From our ITC perspective, this describes a brain operating from a survival standpoint. When you can’t shift your mind into a state of ease, happiness, and joy, it usually means your brain is doing its job to survive.
The Survival Mechanism
Imagine you’re about to be eaten by a tiger. Should you be happy and always see the positive in that moment? Absolutely not! You want to react quickly, allowing your survival mechanisms to kick in: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn. Stress triggers a combination of signals from both hormones and nerves, causing your adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol. This initiates automatic systems to keep you alive. Our brains and bodies are wired for this from as early as in utero. These defense mechanisms are essential for the survival of the human race.
The Modern-Day Mismatch
The main problem today is that most of us aren’t facing life-threatening dangers like tigers in our daily lives. Despite this, our defense systems are still wired to react, but the reactions don’t match the actual stressors. For instance, if you live in a survival state for a long time, a flood of cortisol can be triggered by minor incidents, like being cut off in traffic or being asked to clean your room. This means you are unable to differentiate between real and perceived threats. Your brain will react as if the threat is real, often unconsciously.
Reorganizing Your Brain
At In the Cortex, we teach you the movements you’re designed to do (yes, starting in utero) to help reorganize your brain and regulate your nervous system. This is especially important for those experiencing Dysphoric Mood. Your brain’s reaction to stressors creates hormonal imbalances, keeping you in a state of intense discontent. By revisiting and performing movements from early development, your brain can function as intended, rather than being stuck in a survival mode with a dysregulated nervous system.
Practical Steps to Manage Dysphoric Mood
Next time you feel a dysphoric mood coming on, try one of our favorite Brain Gym exercises: the Brain Hook-up. This exercise helps calm your energy and connects your brain, making you more present and helping you recognize that the stressor is not a tiger about to attack you.
Understanding dysphoric mood as a misfire of your brain’s survival mechanisms can help you manage and alleviate its symptoms. By practicing specific movements, you can help your brain transition from survival mode to a more balanced state, improving your overall well-being.
Feel free to reach out to us at In the Cortex for more tips and exercises to help regulate your nervous system and improve your mental health.
