How to Rewire Fear Into Courage: The Neuroscience of Bravery Explained

The Longevity Podcast: Optimizing HealthSpan & MindSpan

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We explain the true differences between fear, stress, anxiety, and trauma, then map the circuits that make threat memories stick and how to unwind them. The path forward is clear: extinguish the old response and build a stronger, purpose-driven one using therapy, chemistry, and practice.
• operational definitions of fear, stress, anxiety, trauma
• autonomic seesaw, HPA axis, cortisol and memory consolidation
• amygdala dual outputs to threat and reward systems
• prefrontal cortex as top-down control and narrative
• classical conditioning and one-trial learning
• extinction through safe exposure and narrative rebuilding
• ketamine and MDMA assisted psychotherapy mechanisms
• cyclic hyperventilation protocol for calibration
• sleep, nutrition, and targeted supplements
• timing anxiolytics outside exposure to preserve learning signal
This podcast is created by Ai for educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical or health advice. Please talk to your healthcare team for medical advice.

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Chapters

1. Defining Fear, Stress, Anxiety (00:00:00)

2. From Stress To Trauma (00:01:09)

3. Autonomic Seesaw And HPA Axis (00:02:11)

4. Cortisol, Memory, And The Amygdala (00:03:26)

5. Dual Outputs: Threat And Reward (00:04:50)

6. Prefrontal Control And Meaning (00:06:00)

7. Conditioning And One-Trial Learning (00:06:40)

8. Extinction And Narrative Replacement (00:07:03)

9. Therapy: Exposure, CBT, And Safety (00:08:00)

10. Drug-Assisted Psychotherapy: Ketamine And MDMA (00:08:35)

11. Self-Tools: Breathwork And Calibration (00:09:43)

12. Sleep, Nutrition, And Supplements (00:10:35)

13. Using Anxiolytics Around Therapy (00:11:13)

14. Final Logic And The Story You Choose (00:11:41)