The amygdala is a small area, deep in the center of the brain , that plays a huge role in emotional functioning. It’s responsible for your primitive reactions to dangerous stimuli, often referred to as the “fight, flight or freeze” response.
Because, these life and death reactions are vital to survival, your brain wires information from the outside world to the amygdala faster than it does to other parts of your brain. This enables the amygdala to instantly take over and bypass the frontal cortex, the part of the brain in charge of planning and reasoning.
When the amygdala is in charge, you act without thinking. Helpful if a bear is chasing you. Not so helpful at work, and other bear-free zones.
Sometimes our brain cannot tell the difference between a bear, an annoying client, or a tailgating car. This is when the “90-second rule” comes in handy.
seconds are all it takes to identify an emotion and allow it to dissipate while you simply notice it. When you are stressed, pausing ninety seconds and labeling what you are feeling (e.g., I am getting angry), tamps down activity in the amygdala.
MRI studies of the brain show that this “emotion labeling” calms the brain region involved in angry outbursts and helps you regain control.
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