Hijacked by Your Brain : How to Free Yourself When Stress Takes Over PDF
Preview Hijacked by Your Brain : How to Free Yourself When Stress Takes Over
Hijacked by your Brain How to Free Yourself When Stress Takes Over Dr. Julian Ford and Jon Wortmann HijackedByYouBrain.indd 1 7/10/12 3:39 PM Copyright © 2012 by Dr. Julian Ford and Jon Wortmann Cover and internal design © 2012 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover photo credit line?? (designer to add) Internal permissions credit lines?? (designer to add) Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems— except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews— without permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. This book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified physician. The intent of this book is to provide accurate general information in regard to the subject matter covered. If medical advice or other expert help is needed, the services of an appropriate medical professional should be sought. All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trade- marks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc. is not associated with any product or vendor in this book. Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4 410 (630) 961- 3900 Fax: (630) 961- 2168 www.sourcebooks.com [insert CIP data here] Printed and bound in [Country of Origin – confirm when printer is selected]. XX 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 HijackedByYouBrain.indd 2 7/10/12 3:39 PM For Judy and Jen HijackedByYouBrain.indd 3 7/10/12 3:39 PM HijackedByYouBrain.indd 4 7/10/12 3:39 PM contents Introduction xx Part I: Stress and the Brain xx Chapter 1: The Survival Brain xx Chapter 2: The Learning Brain xx Chapter 3: The Goal: Cultivate an Optimal Brain xx Part II: The Missing Skill in Stress Management: Focusing xx Chapter 4: A Brief Introduction to SOS xx Chapter 5: Step Back: Replacing Reactivity with Self-R egulation xx Chapter 6: Orient: Regaining Your Inner Compass xx Chapter 7: Self- Check: Reading Your Body’s Dashboard xx Chapter 8: When You Can’t SOS: Recognize Triggers xx Part III: Three Ways to Orient before Stress Takes Over xx Chapter 9: Empower Your Emotions xx Chapter 10: Exercise Your Core Values xx Chapter 11: Determine Your Optimal Goals xx Part IV: An Optimal Life xx Chapter 12: Optimize Your Choices xx Chapter 13: Make a Contribution xx Chapter 14: Anticipating the Pitfalls on the Way to an Optimal Life xx HijackedByYouBrain.indd 5 7/10/12 3:39 PM HijackedByYouBrain.indd 6 7/10/12 3:39 PM authors’ note T hroughout the book, the stories we tell are true. We’ve had the privilege of seeing, and in some cases helping, thousands of people learn to regulate the stress alarm in their brains and take back control of their lives. In every case that we describe, the details of the story have been changed to ensure the privacy of each individual. Any resemblance in our writing to the people we’ve known or worked with is unintentional and should not be misinterpreted as a description of any specific individual. And, as you read our stories, we hope that you will see yourself in these people as they faced the ultimate challenge of modern life: transforming stress from a source of anxiety and despair into an opportunity to make the world a better place in which to live. HijackedByYouBrain.indd 7 7/10/12 3:39 PM HijackedByYouBrain.indd 8 7/10/12 3:39 PM introduction H ow do we stop stress from hijacking our lives? No matter how well we handle stress, sooner or later it gets the best of us. No exceptions: even people who are incredibly calm and collected under intense pressure have stress meltdowns. We work hard at managing stress so it doesn’t disrupt our lives; and still • we find ourselves saying things we don’t really mean during an argument • we forget a promise we made to someone and have to deal with their disappointment and our guilt • we back down instead of being assertive when confronted by a bully or abuser • we get so revved up by competition that we can’t think straight, or so nervous that we choke • we act on impulse and do things that we know are wrong • we find ourselves blaming someone else when we need to take responsibility • we dwell on the past when we need to move on • we feel unable to forgive ourselves or someone else • we procrastinate or give up in the face of a crucial deadline • we break down over the smallest thing HijackedByYouBrain.indd 9 7/10/12 3:39 PM
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