Your Survival Instinct Is Killing You: Retrain Your Brain to Conquer Fear and Build Resilience

This book is brilliant! I encourage one to read and re-read it. While its title initially intrigued me, it almost made me turn away. The thought that something within me, which is innately designed to help me survive, could also be turning against me was troubling. Turns out, my close-call with avoidance of reading this book (a potential uncomfortable experience) is exactly the book's point. We're all becoming increasingly uncomfortable with being uncomfortable, so we avoid it at all costs. If I'm correctly understanding the premise, our non-stop, multi-tasking, never-slow-down world, where our brain rarely gets a break, is setting off a series of chemical reactions between the limbic and cerebral parts of our brain, causing us to be in higher states of what Schoen calls agitance, ultimately causing our survival instinct to be set on code red 24/7. Imagine, always being in fight or flight mode.So, naturally, we work to avoid discomfort (what our brain is translating as life-threatening), and maladaptive habits form, such as addictions, compulsive disorders, physical illnesses, insominia, protective and avoidance habits, etc. The more we avoid uncomfortable experiences, the less tolerance we develop for being uncomfortable, causing our limbic brain (the emotional part of the brain) to view all forms of discomfort as fear, and a threat to our survival. To make matters worse, the limbic brain is innately designed to bypass the cerebral (logic) brain when survival is at risk. So, logic is literally bypassed.I like how thoroughly Schoen explains what is happening in our heads. It's empowering. Though, my favorite part of the book is part two, where Schoen provides 15 strategies that can literally turn this chemical and emotional reaction around (a kind of rewiring of it) before it completely rewires us. Essentially, Schoen is giving us the tools to train ourselves to be more comfortable with being uncomfortable, and to develop a better relationship with pain and discomfort, with life, really. These strategies are not complicated. I've tried a couple. As Schoen explains it, he's helping us to turn our "sources of discomfort into sources of power."I left a lot out, of course, like Schoen's long and distinguished career in this field, his research, case study examples, and other facts and studies that substantiate his work and strategies. In the end, it looks like FDR was right about fear. And, in this case, what you don't know is hurting you.I'm a really strong person who has faced many physical and emotional challenges, yet, I know I have more recently developed some avoidance habits, and it was beginning to affect how I reacted to people and situations. What wasn't killing me was no longer making me stronger; on the contrary, it was beginning to weaken and change me. I'm going on a cruise to Europe today, and I intend to begin incorporating Schoen's 15 Strategies into my life, beginning with #12, "Taking a Breather."Diane L. SchultzFreelance Magazine and Feature WriterEdwards, CO

This is an incredibly informative, exciting and useful book for non professionals who are concerned about their own health as well as health professionals treating patients who want to learn a new approach to a growing problem.Dr Schoen introduces and explores with us the concept that our built in survival mechanisms are actually causing us to respond to the "discomfort" of life in ways that actually cause us more ill health and limit our potential for growth and satisfying relationships. And most important, Dr Schoen explains how we can develop a new relationship with the inevitable "discomforts"of life.He brilliantly and clearly introduces much of the current scientific research in ways a non scientist can understand but also offering new insights that will expand and enrich the understanding of those with scientific backgroundsThe book is not only informative and fascinating but very readable and in a style as if you are having a conversation with Dr Schoen. It is filled with case studies, personal stories and practical suggestions of ways we can learn to deal more effectively with the "discomforts" that are a constant part of life.I highly recommend the book to anyone interested in changing their patterns of response and improving their own health as well as to trained health professionals who want to help their patients learn new ways of handling the inevitable challenges of life.Larry Drell, MDMedical Director: Anxiety and Depression Therapy ServicesWashington, [email protected]

an excellent book for the fearful and phobic. it is well written and explains the dynamics of painful anxiety and worry and how to intercept it.

An excellent explanation of why we are in a continuous loop of adrenal fatigue and why panic attacks and depression, linked to obesity and other systemic diseases are on the rise. Hopeful and encouraging in that you don't have to stay there, there is another way out of the loop without drugs.Though I greatly dislike all the references to evolution, (as I believe in Intelligent design) the explanation and mapping of the brain seemed informative to a lay person, and easy to understand, follow and implement.

This book has become my "brain Bible." I intend to use it to not only help myself (and transcend that all too common state-of- being Dr Schoen has termed "agitance") and will also use it with clients. Radical discoveries and epiphanies galore are contained therein..Fear is the real "enemy"..and its concomitant feelings/reactions..and we do just about *anything* to avoid being uncomfortable--this is what is really going on in modern day America. Dr. Schoen's research makes solid scientific sense. Brilliant and hopeful..Our minds can actually become our ally--WE can become our own allies--this is terrific news and very, very encouraging. I highly recommend it!

Just reading Dr. Schoen's scientific basis to what causes the paralyzing ailments of anxiety, stress, depression and the likes was a great help in gaining insight to the roots of the epidemic.After spending more than 7 years researching every possible remedy above and beyond the standard medications that ultimately never work, just reading this book has helped more in a few days than the 7 years combined. Life is not perfect yet and that is to be expected. This book will arm you with the tools you need to start the process of self healing.I strongly recommend this book for anyone with children still in the home as I fear the next generation will fare worse if we continue to follow the current path of our "get it now" society.This is the best book I have read on this topic and I have been through quite a few.

Increasing comfort levels are leading us to overreact to discomfort. This is activating our survival instinct for more and more trivial issues, increasing our anxiety and reducing our ability to perform successfully and use our resources.This book reframes discomfort, pointing out what it is and managing yourself to perform while uncomfortable is so important.I have had a hairtrigger reaction to certain situations all my life. I tried all kinds of solutions: mostly cognitive but also accupressure, and others. None did the job fully because they weren't directed at retraining the response of my limbic system, the 'reptile' part of the brain.After using these techniques for three days I am significantly calmer and starting to look forward to discomfort as the waves on which I will surf towards success. Do I enjoy my discomfort? No, because it has been a problem for too long? Can I master it? For the first time in a while, I actually think so.

It made me to analyse my established habits and reactions.I started questioning myself about my certain behaviours.I recommend this book.Investment is worth the cost.