Page 40 - Advance Copy: Todd Kaufman, Author

TODD KAUFMAN
at a slower rate than adrenaline. Cortisol also has what we call a “set point.” The higher the set point, the more easily we are triggered for an anxiety-type response to any given incident. This set point can increase with repeated exposure. A higher set point and the resulting prolonged exposure to cortisol can ultimately impact our immune system, digestive system, reproductive system and other processes.
The good news is, your set point can be lowered. As you learn and practice the techniques in this book, you will lower your set point.
Here are the direct physiological responses to an increase in adrenaline and cortisol:
Symptoms of a Panic Attack Symptoms of Elevated Adrenaline and Cortisol
• Elevated heart rate
• Hyperventilation, difficulty breathing and/or a feeling of choking
• Heavy chest and/or chest pains
• Dry mouth
• A warm, tingly feeling in your extremities (this is due to a
redistribution of an oxygen-enriched blood supply to critical areas to
help you in fight or flight, i.e., to the muscles in your legs and arms)
• A feeling that you are dying (this is due to your blood being
distributed away from non-essential systems, resulting in these
systems sending a signal to your brain that they are dying)
• Feeling a loss of control
• Possible nausea and/or dizziness
Most often, we interpret all of these feelings/symptoms as the symptoms of a panic attack. You now know, however, that these symptoms are actually a direct result of elevated levels of adrenaline and cortisol in your body. It does not matter if I inject these hormones into your system with a syringe, or if the amygdala triggers your hypothalamus to release them into your system – the result is the same!
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