Dog with Bone

Whether it was adrenaline, cortisol or both, I'm not sure... but whatever it was, it knocked me off level and made me like a dog with a bone. This type of reactive behaviour is typical in a high-stress workplace.

The upside is that it gave me some good material for this Keeping Level video. Watch the video below and leave a comment or tell us about your "dog with a bone" story!

Here's the Science

Cortisol and adrenaline are produced in times of stress or fear. They stimulate the amygdala, which is the "alarm bell" of the brain. While alarm bells are important, dinosaurs no longer roam the earth... yet the amygdala is hyper-sensitive to negative stimuli. A 2015 study published in the Social Cognitive Neuroscience Advance found that happiness (i.e. more grateful people) is associated with a balanced amygdala response to positivity and negativity. This more balanced response perhaps comes from a grateful frame of mind rich in serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine, neurochemicals that lead to factors associated with flourishing (confidence, bonding and seeking of rewards).