Unleashing the Power of Your Brain; the Importance of Resilience in Surviving Trauma, Stress & Fear

I interviewed a good friend and a superstar of neuroscience, Dr. Srini Pillay. You absolutely must listen to this interview, just so excellent and fascinating. He has over 17 years of experience in brain imaging and has an international reputation as a human behavior expert with special emphasis on stress and anxiety. Srini is a world renowned Harvard Psychiatrist, a brain expert and he is the award winning author of the excellent book, Life Unlocked: 7 Revolutionary Lessons to Overcome Fear. He is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Invited Faculty at Harvard Business School. Srini is also the founder and CEO of Neuro Business Group, voted one of the top twenty movers and shakers in leadership development in the world and is noted for his uncanny ability to translate complex brain science into usable tips. He is wildly sought out by the media and has been featured on the Dr. Laura Bergman Show, on Oprah radio, Martha Stewart whole living, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Fox News, The New York Times, and numerous other media outlets. Srini aims to help people understand how we can all unleash the power of our brains to live happier and more productive lives. In our interview, Dr. Pillay talked about the importance of a person's resilience, as a key differentiator, when it comes to dealing with stress and thriving after a trauma. He uses a wonderful visual of a flashlight. The ability to consciously choose to shine your flashlight away from the stress, to shine it on a more positive outcome or feeling; that allows one to be resilient. People who continue to shine their flashlight on the fear or anxiety, relive the experience. If the emotion is about a bad breakup, a person may be so fearful and anxious that they go from one relationship to another. Stress precipitates habit; it is called "repetition compulsion", and seen in PTSD victims. So how does one increase their resilience? How does a person gain control over their flashlight? Dr. Pillay gives us an overview as to how people can reduce their anxiety and deal with their fears and stresses. He reviews his "C.I.R.C.A." model which stands for: Chunking, Ignore the threatening narrative, Reality check, Control check, and Attentional shift. All of these have significant research behind them and can help balance your anxiety. Dr. Pillay says that research has proven that anyone can train their brain to think and react differently. So fascinating…the mind has a profound impact on our physiology. It can sabotage you, or help you heal.