| An interesting thing happens to our brains and | | | | without respite. The main difficulty with |
| bodies when we panic or when we see others in | | | | unremitting stress is that it becomes habitual and |
| panic mode. Based on the perception that there is | | | | very difficult to break out of. If we are to |
| danger, our primitive brain takes over from the | | | | safeguard our physical and mental health as well |
| advanced reasoning centre located in the | | | | as our economy, it becomes imperative for us to |
| prefrontal cortex and sends signals to the body | | | | re-activate our pre-frontal cortex, our evolved, |
| that it's time for action. What's happening on a | | | | creative, thinking brain so that we can make |
| biological level is that the amygdala, an almond | | | | choices from a resourceful, calm and intelligent |
| shaped area of the brain transmits the message | | | | standpoint rather than rushing into decisions that |
| to the body to release powerful hormones such | | | | may be regretted later. |
| as adrenaline and cortisol so that we can either | | | | The key to staying calm and keeping the |
| run away or stay and fight. Our heart pumps | | | | economy strong, is movement, not the rapid, |
| blood to our arms and legs often lending us | | | | instinctive knee-jerk reaction that we see in the |
| superhuman strength, this is the stuff of legends | | | | fight or flight response, or the "bury your head in |
| and news stories about people lifting cars up to | | | | the sand" refusal to do anything at all that is the |
| rescue trapped friends and loved ones. In order | | | | freeze reaction, but the slower, more deliberate |
| to accomplish this, the system must shunt blood | | | | movement consciously created with clear |
| away from our brains, our digestive tract and all | | | | intention, like the unhurried, measured dance of |
| other functions of the body not directly involved | | | | Tai Chi. Movement away from the perception of |
| in fight or flight. Once the danger is over, usually | | | | immediate danger and the automatic fight, flight |
| fairly quickly, the body systems return to normal. | | | | or freeze response of the amygdala and into the |
| It's a great system and for the most part it | | | | mindful awareness of the pre-frontal cortex |
| works really well, except of course if the danger | | | | creates the calm necessary to weather the |
| isn't immediate and/or life threatening and if it | | | | storm without damage to your body or your |
| persists over long stretches of time. | | | | bank account. |
| Often left out of the fight or flight equation, but | | | | How you create that movement from panic |
| equally debilitating, is the freeze response. That's | | | | mode to unruffled understanding is entirely up to |
| the "deer in the headlights" thing where panic has | | | | you, unique to your style, your needs. Many |
| caused a complete physical and mental shut-down | | | | people find that regular exercise and plenty of |
| and you stand in the middle of the road waiting, | | | | sleep is enough. For others meditation, counselling, |
| hoping and praying that the two ton truck coming | | | | supplements or some form of therapy is required. |
| straight at you has enough time to brake, swerve | | | | Once you've managed to settle your system |
| or miraculously disappear into thin air. Rather than | | | | down, it becomes much easier to make decisions |
| facing it, many people will turn a blind eye and | | | | that work best for you over the long term. |
| refuse to look at the possibility of impending | | | | Perhaps it's time to reconsider where you have |
| doom moving rapidly their way, only to find that | | | | invested or maybe you're thinking that you've got |
| had they simply moved out of the way to think | | | | lots of time so investing now while markets are |
| for a moment, the answer was simply making | | | | low and prices are down is a good idea. Maybe |
| that conscious clear-headed choice to move out | | | | you are nearing or are at the point where you |
| of the way! | | | | are living on your investments and security is |
| For most people an economic downturn or | | | | paramount so you need to transfer over to a |
| recession, however, is not the equivalent of being | | | | less volatile arena. Even taking a step back to |
| chased by a sabre tooth tiger or run over by a | | | | observe from a more objective standpoint or |
| truck nor is it a great time for our advanced | | | | waiting for awhile to see what will unfold |
| reasoning creative brain to shut down in favour of | | | | constitute conscious choices or movements. |
| surging hormones that make us feel really unwell | | | | It's important to remember that whether the |
| when they aren't being burned off fighting or | | | | market is bull or bear, that neither a bull nor a |
| running away. | | | | bear is chasing you. The economy is like any living |
| So what happens when panic of the kind we see | | | | organism; it has ebb and flow like the tides and |
| today on the economic world stage isn't burned | | | | just like the tide, fighting it or trying to get away |
| off appropriately and lasts far longer than most | | | | from it can drown you. So remain calm in |
| people can endure? Our bodies become | | | | whatever manner works for you, don't react |
| overwhelmed, we suffer the effects of anxiety | | | | quickly without thought or stop all actions, freeze |
| which can manifest as poor sleep, bad eating | | | | and bury your head in the sand, rather, use your |
| habits, a significant increase in smoking and alcohol | | | | self-aware conscious mind and make decisions |
| consumption amongst other things, all of which | | | | that work for you, slowly and deliberately go with |
| lead to poor decision making. Our bodies are | | | | a sense of flow and most importantly, keep it |
| simply not equipped to manage the relentless | | | | moving! |
| cascade of stress hormones for months on end | | | | |