Why we turn into raging idiots | The Amygdala Hijack explained

[@RdHolland]

I remember a funny amygdala hijack that happened to my father. He was super stressed from work and had just picked me up from karate. He saw that the garbage had not been taken out and got frustrated. He asked me what I had been doing for the last hour that prevented me from taking out the garbage. I looked at him like he was joking. Then I said, I was at karate, you just picked me up from there. That opened his eyes to his own state of mind. He apologized and laughed at himself.

[@claudiaamorosi1229]

I remember that one of the things that triggered my amygdala the most was when my mother-in-law had just moved in with me. Every time she controlled the children's meal or bath schedules, I would literally go crazy and tell her to mind her own business, to look at how she raised her own son, and other things that I really don't remember but regret.

[@EdwardGuardino]

My friend Lily rushed for an important job interview, only to realize she forgot her resume. Panic set in, but a wise stranger's kindness and guidance helped her navigate the crisis and reschedule the interview. Lesson learned: staying calm and seeking support during tough times is key!

[@ideeontwikkeling]

Thanks for your video and contest, Gregory. My amygdala hijack happened when my bike broke down (flat tire). I went to the bike repair shop and asked the guy 'can you fix my bike please?' He paused and gave the bike a look. It drove me crazy that he didn't just say 'yes' at such a simple question. This was a repairshop, right? Then I asked, 'can you attach this luggage carrier as well?' I'd brought a luggage carrier from another bike with me. After slowly looking at the luggage carrier, he said it wouldn't fit. 'Okay,' I said. 'Do you sell a luggage carrier from your shop that does fit?' From my perspective I was doing him a favour, there was more money for him to make by selling me a brand new one. He frowned. I was annoyed. Didn't he want to sell stuff? He seemed so reluctant to take the bike in, but he did. Then he said I should have phoned to make an appointment, and not just show up in his shop. I looked around, I saw nobody in the shop. When he asked my phone number to give me a ring to collect my bike when the repair was done, I said I didn't have a phone number and that I would visit the shop again in a day or two to see if the bike was ready. I lived nearby. That irritated him. Then I flipped. I yelled at him: 'shouldn't you act nice to customers?' I guess he scratched some of my moral emotions. Apparently I did the same with him. I yelled at him, took my bike and left, promising myself to never enter the shop again. Strangely enough there was a slow tension build up, not the sudden road rage when someone cuts you off in traffic, but I lost it completely. I can still feel the rage.

[@giuliaionitoiu6416]

This would explain way some old people become less patient with time. It's nice to have this in mind when dealing with these kind of situations, I think it helps me keep calm knowing why the other person got angry so fast. Thank you for the video!

[@patrickryan1515]

Glad that at this slowed-down point in my life I am able to allow my frontal cortex prime time while greatly reducing my amygdala activity. It makes me a much better person to be around.

[@statsorama]

One of my memories from childhood is my dad coming home from his work shifts at 4am and, in the dark, stumbling on legos - such colorful language! The amygdala must be a creative writing pro when it comes to swear words. Thanks for making this video! I’ve been struggling with controlling my own amygdala hijackings & have found some of your Udemy courses helpful. I bet this will help many people!

[@sylviec2379]

Several years ago, a friend told me I was scary because I had this ability to turn into a "psycho bitch" in an instant. I simply could not help explode when triggered by certain issues that mattered to me. With time and work, I learnt what my triggers are and how to react differently to them. The "psycho bitch" still lies within but it only comes out on very rare occasions ☺

[@ThePerpetualStudent]

I am a year late but at 45 years of age, i still get pissed at the same stuff. What worked?

[@AnEveryManJack]

This couldn't have come at a better time for me. Life's been pretty stressful lately, and I feel I've been lashing out. Not on any people thankfully, but I've definitely broken some things and caused some self harm out of anger. Next time I get that angry, I'm going to try and stop myself by thinking about this. Thank you!

[@BrainAcademy1]

Glad this may help :)

[@louisevanzyl1597]

Great how we are reminded that we are all human, although sometimes, we believe we can just manage life and what happens during our journey like robots, feel nothing until the feeling is so real that you burst into a tirade and just start throwing things around because for a split second someone asks for money and you don't have any left to give. Wow loved this video

[@danieltorresmancera]

Thank you so much for this video! Once a friend of ours, the calmest person in the world, got frustrated by a seemingly pointless event during a friends gathering, to the point where he started destroying things and yelling at everyone… we ended up packed in a corner during the crisis, it was like watching Hulk come alive in front of us… the following day, after he had had the time to cool down and sleep, he came back and apologized to all of us. And then he said: ‘please excuse me, I assure you, this only happens to me once every ten years’… what????? We came back home and put the timer on, it’s six years ahead till next armaggedon, unless we -he?- do something to deactivate whatever the fuse is…

[@melanieshudofsky1508]

The one situation where I witnessed the Amygdala Hijack was when I was balancing on a mountain ridge with 1000 meters of drop on both sides, trying to stay focused despite being dangerously hydrated. At that very moment, my climbing partner, who stood several meters behind and above me on the ridge, yelled at me with all his fierceness, "For damn sakes, please hurry up a bit, will you?!!" I won't ever forget that situation; it was so risky, and at the same time, it propelled my focus to a level I had not experienced before in order for me to tackle that difficult section on the mountain ridge.

[@kalleys2986]

love your courses! This makes a lot of sense. I just recently let go of some obligations that were contributing to my stress levels and I've seen a major difference in myself since I've been able to do that. As far as a funny story goes, a few weeks ago there was a man that was angry at Burger King because they wouldn't give him back the coupon that he just used to buy his food, because apparently at another Burger King he goes to they give them back to him, but this one did not. He was trying to come up with all sorts of stuff to try and get that coupon back and finally they just started ignoring him and asked for the next guest to come up and order while he stood there awkwardly arguing to the air. I was tempted to go give him $1-2 for his next meal just so he could really grasp the small amount of money he was arguing over, but from the sounds of it, the amygdala hijack wouldn't have been able to let him see that logic.

[@bethehrenzeller4089]

I also have an example of a hijack experience while waiting for my food order at a Burger King. on the far South Side in Chicago, Illinois awhile back. There was a man who was loudly complaining that his food was cold by the time that it was handed to him, and he had paid $10 for everything. The poor employees just stared at him, and he turned to me and barked: "Well, it's MY money!" I shrugged and thought to myself: "First world problem, bro. First. world. problem."

[@TammyGraham-d7f]

This is a great video and helps explain our behaviour when we feel out of control. It helps us understand how to respond rather than react!

[@alfonsomacias2238]

Sadly, I don’t have a funny amygdala hijack moment but I did start having them in 2020. They only got worse. I started to go on rants with zero emotional connection. I felt a complete disconnect to reason and my heart. I sought out therapy and that helped a little but got expensive. I also tried realigning my chakras, tried yoga, meditation, and qigong. I have to admit I didn’t stick to these practices long enough to see results because I didn’t make the time having a new baby (now 17 months) and transition into a new career. This is the first piece of information that makes any sense and just knowing the root has the potential for improvement. Thank you for posting this information.

[@giroudsandstorm2923]

im so happy there are channels like this that inform us about how humans work. please keep it up😃

[@laughingvampire7555]

In some way the mythology about werewolves is about this, that is why is a curse and we are out of control, we lose it and we turn violent and then we wake up to our mess and we feel terrible.

[@drogadorealizacjimarzen]

This film came to me at the perfect time. I'm tired and stressed from work for a long time (I can't quit because I have to earn money), so today I yelled at my children. And I had the same thought as in the movie: "they are my children, so I can't give them up." 😅

[@WeruschkaOosthuizen]

Amygdala hijacker on the prowl, until I learned about neuroplasticity. So I have her on a leash and under control now. Sending an SOS anyway because she has a mind of her own.

[@psyfiles7351]

Love this vid and going to share it with my students thank you!!

[@robrodriguez7750]

this was great information, very informative. Sometimes we are fast to criticized individuals who act on little thing not knowing that they are being hijacked

[@mimalaptes-frangu8595]

Great video. Thank you for making it so easy to understand.

[@anagil-merino1301]

When I lived in Germany with my husband I was overly sensitive, I didn't like living there. I felt too young to accept the changes and adapt. One rainy day I had just washed and ironed my husband's shirts. We had some kind of discussion and it turned into an argument, probably about the hard time I had living there. I cannot recall exactly what triggered me, but my amygdala really hijacked me and... I threw all of my husband's clean and ironed shirts out of the window. I cried afterwards 😪🤣🤣

[@carolegoyette4928]

Oh my god! I recognize my self all the time. For sure this video was made for me. Other thing. I’m a French Canadian and it’s easy to understand the entire video 🙏

[@ianstevenson192]

I was driving through a busy street in London when I came across a car stopped in the middle of the road and I got out to see if I could help. There was a couple inside having a blazing row and in his anger the man had lashed out and broken the key off in the lock, so now they were stuck and the subject of lots of angry motorists trying to get round them. I offered to help them push the car out of the main highway, but the guy was so wired by now that he told me to "**** off", so I did and left them to their peril.

[@BrainAcademy1]

when the ego kicks in, it gets even worse... lol

[@Udjin80]

I've always been a person with a good self control, but recently it happened often that I became aggressive (bad words and throwing stuff, never beat-up anybody). It was a stressing period, but I couldn't recognize myself

[@BrainAcademy1]

I'm sorry to hear that. Hope things are better for you now...

[@harjinderbharaj2055]

Wonderful… Amygdala High Jack… stress via cortex as emotion or memory… the other one direct fight and flight or freeze. Wonderfully explained👍 Thank you..

[@ankushmore8495]

A very difficult topic explained in very simple way. Great 👍 👌 👏

[@higherspirit1]

While I agree with your solutions more broadly, I think facing a stressors that are considered a perceived threat (like fear of small spaces or different ethnicities) would better resolve underlying fear. This adds newer data and experiences which would hopefully prove that such fears are unfounded.

[@Thomas.c4647]

This can also happen due to excessive guilt and shame, which can cause a huge fawn response for no reason. Found this out the hard way.

[@EmmanuelGASTINEAU]

I love this vidéo ! First Time I enjoy your content (éven if I wanted since a long Time) and it is very powerful ! I am very interested to learn some more about it! I rencently have had an amygdyla hijack with a collegue and it lead me to over réact and it damaged the relationship :( Now I understood why and Can self correct, thank you!

[@SaidRahman]

Totally agree that stress makes amygdala sensitive. And it happened almost when I am tired after working, lack of sleep, or workload. And when it comes, my children becomes victims of amygdala hijacked. I am very sad about it. So I try to control my daily activities.

[@BrainAcademy1]

Becoming aware of a problem, is the first step to solving it :)

[@lironpo]

40 ways to deal with stress sounds Amazing! :)

[@nicolasdeliau]

Hi there, i've got Amygdala issues when i'm really hungry. Before i start feeling bad, i get kind of agressive. Therefore, in my home entrance, i have a little red box .The box is simply labeled " In case of emergency" There are three biscuits in it. Everyone knows about it and they are often making fun of me. They don't realise that it is for the sake of keeping them safe ! Signed : Hulk

[@BrainAcademy1]

yeah, I can get really cranky as well when I get hungry. lol.

[@annalizagalo]

Reading all the funny stories and comments here about Amygdala Hijack makes me just wanna laugh all day lol -- I had many funny stories myself. I had an argument with my ex-husband one night, and at that time, I could not handle all the words he was telling me in that fight anymore; I threw a mobile phone at his head because he has a very hard head (literally) so my phone bounced off his head and hit me directly on my face. We ended up icing each other's heads that night, and of course, we were stunned by what happened with our fight that night, and we come back to that story over and over again to this day. I guess something to remind ourselves to back off when the "Amygdala Hijacks" happen.

[@onesmartcookiek9services]

Amygdala Hijack occurs far less often than it used to, but still susceptible to it. A ‘funny’ story about my own amygdala hijack 🧠 I was late for a scent detection class with one of my dogs and was driving on the highway at a quicker speed than I should have been. I ended up behind someone who was driving just under the speed limit which was causing a build up of unhelpful emotions. The instant we arrived at the city and it split into 2 lanes, I floored it and passed the guy only to have him pull up beside me at a red light that had promptly stopped me. He was mounting something in his calm demeanour as he pointed to the advertisement on my Jeep’s window (yes, my business name and phone number). This is where the hijack occurred… I screamed at him as I aggressively brought my hand to my ear mimicking holding a phone, “F_ _ _ing PHONE ME!!!!!!!!!!!” He just shook his head at me and calmly drove forward. That could have turned out very bad with the power of social media and bad reviews. Definitely not my finest moment. Took me a bit to calm down and realize all the things leading up to it and felt ridiculous and humbled. So much shame. “One Smart Cookie, my a$$!” It’s a good reminder to plan ahead, manage time better, and BREATHE!! Interesting and fascinating how the brain works. Please pick me to win the free stress course 🎉 TIA ~Andrea

[@catherinebirch2399]

I had a stressful time growing up. An abusing father and bullying st school. I'm sure that's why I tend to panic in stressful situations.

[@lovelv1278]

I came looking for info to help make sense w a death that happened yesterday. I haven't been able to figure out why someone would ACT the way they did to get themselves killed 😢 I said to myself , omg his amygdala must have been hijacked!! So I came to Google & yup , I can now hopefully help the family understand what happened . Here is the accident that happened yesterday: Family of 3 headed for a family reunion so his 6 month old could meet the family . Husband , wife & baby in car . Husband got cut off driving on highway , he rages & in turn cuts off the driver & stopped the car to block him . His wife was begging him not to get out , he got out . Transport truck hit Husband who is DEAD . the truck hit the initial car that cut them off which in turn hit the wife /baby who rolled 2x & they landed in a ditch - they had to find the husband's body as it flew . 😢😢😢😢😢

[@anuua9041]

would love to know about the amygdala reclaim/retain! - Anuu

[@carlotortora6624]

Greg is always putting the finger in the sore at the right time... we have become an amygdala's slave generation... thanks from Italy for your opening mind support

[@matto4602]

That was awesome Thanks for the invaluable insight Your info should be common knowledge . I feel a required awareness and understanding globally would benefit . I hope you one day get a noble prize before the hijacking of all human amygdala’s … 🌏

[@paulagarciacalatrava7531]

My best amygdala moments were during pregnancy… I used to call it the panther in me, I could almost see myself roar (Lion Guard style). It was soo visceral! Also being extremely tired once baby was born would wake the panther too… totally aware. Pranayama helped.

[@molnart]

Amygdala Hijack? I nearest memory is with my kids. When I go home with them from my mum and take them into the car, my 8 years old daughter dont klik her seat belt and asking for a candy, my 3 years son asking for some kind of game... I was completely in stress, work, mom, who now what.... and in next second I see myself how I scream like a crazy on a kids.... I realize that it is really wrong after 5km of silence in a car I try to explain the kids that this was my fighter reaction and who can scream more then daddy? And like usually my son wins :D After this I was really afraid of myself and my reactions. I think this was really this Amygdala Hijack :) Thank you for the challenge and wish all the bests with Brain Academy.

[@Blue32Star]

Here's #41: How to hijack the 'amygdala hijack'. Get a lip-ring, hang a bell on it. When the bell starts ringing non-stop, then STOP, close your mouth shut, realise you've been robbed of your frontal cortex, breathe, remove yourself from where you can be an idiot, and go through the #1 - 40 on how to deal with stress! lol

[@anjaliben]

I just experienced it a few days back and was embarrassed within minutes of realizing.. Just knowing about AH is not enough.. one has to work on the steps to deal with it as well!

[@kirankumar5595]

I was very much angry 2 times in my professional life journey and spoiled my relationship.

[@adityayadav2305]

6:16 I think here you wrong when you say that stress make us more stressful because I we see that one person is feel stress in public speaking but constantly indulge in this situation this make him less stressful in that situation, according to that,I thought that results of stressful make us stress when in the last there is no good otherwise we more stressful after that. So to to training our amegdela by constantly indulge in stressful with good end😊

[@heromahmood5463]

Thank you

[@nicolenecavendish7989]

my husband and I had been to my son’s baseball game , and he was doing what he always did instead of sitting with me watching our sons game together, he was walking around talking to all of the women there, getting them drinks from the snack place. and I instantly remembered being with my husband at a community dance and my husband who had been drinking a lot was flirting with another women all night at the dance and ignoring me . i remembered that feeling that he did not love me, he would rather be with someone else. I got up from my seat at the game and started to leave the field when my husband came up to me and said why are you leaving ? and i blew up at him and yelled. you are always flirting with other women and i am sick of it. and his response was, you bow everything out of proportion. you overreact . you should appreciate that you have such a great husband who loves you.

[@lucerocreixell8888]

I now see this is from one year ago. What a sad reality

[@ausidentities2953]

I think the last time I got hi-jacked, I carried on like a deranged idiot for nearly ten minutes. The end result: I was exhausted, and every agreed, I looked like an idiot!!

[@geoffreythomas2938]

Of all the stories of people born with disability like underdeveloped physical limbs and mental abilities during developing feats is controlled by the random acts of the theory of quantum physics. What would it be like for a person with an underdeveloped (or week if you like) amygdala from birth. If the frontal lobe (the thinking part of our brain) has developed stronger than emotional hijack of the amygdala. The frontal lobe should be calm and thinking in any crises we become not afraid. In other worlds being brave in the face of panic.

[@ahuddleston6512]

My dad had this habit of spooking up on me...my amygdala hijack happened when I got home from Tae Kwon do class after taking them for a few weeks and I walked into the living room and a gust of wind blew the curtains in abruptly and I attacked it knocking them down 🤣 but lucky my dad was able to help me put them back up before mom got home otherwise I would have had to use my self defense skills. It became a personal joke 🤪 between us afterwards.

[@MichellePadrelanan]

In my efforts to keep my 14 year old son away from strangers he meets while gaming online, I decided to disconnect him on Discord. He had the biggest tantrum when I told him that he will no longer be able to play video games with these online strangers. He was crying, screaming, banging his fist for about 45 minutes. I recognized the amygdala hijack immediately and did not try to stop him. Well, being 14 he still had underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex. I just let him go on and on until he decided to stop. When he finally did, I told him to drink water, clean his face and led him to do breathing exercises. It finally calmed him and he went to sleep. The next day, he comes to me and tells me that he’s ok. He understands why I did it, and though he is lonely, he’ll learn to live with it.

[@RK-cj4oc]

You are also wrong here. Why would your son not be able to game with strangers? Thats the point of gaming.

[@HemQue3125]

I love the girl laying in the grass!!! But beware where you do it or a freaking ambulance might show up!!!

[@keithmarshall5835]

My Hijack, gets triggered by our dog barking in loud screeks to come indoors.

[@booksourexistence2153]

Thanks

[@edgaras55555]

strange think for me is that in our military more stress, they say, leads to more resilience. but as you said its not true. how to deal with this systematically bad approach ? and i am here for free course :)

[@YamkoonFoo]

Help I need a copy

[@KeithRatner]

Just out of curiosity, do you track at what specific point in your video someone hits "SUBSCRIBE?" Seems like that would be highly valuable data.

[@esraaelimary1268]

I have been dealing with a lot of nonlogical thoughts lately and I belive my amygdala is activated all day long lol

[@javits365]

My own experience, a friend pinch my nipple and I slap his face straight away.... well somehow he learned the lesson. I want the course!

[@NeuroCoach.MichaelCohen]

I heard that road rage was rather caused by a hyper active "anterior cingulate gyrus" and not "only" because of the amygdala?

[@BrainAcademy1]

nothing happens in isolation in the brain. It's all about networks of neurons working together. So yes, the amygdala needs the participation of others areas of the brain in order to be activated.

[@kenadams5504]

Most ppl in jail could probably identify with this amydala hyjack . Jail is actually amygdala Headquarters.

[@jelenamarkovic268]

Instead of "fly, fight, freeze", try saying CHEEEESE 🙂

[@folkishappalachian6827]

The only honorable move would have been to leave his wife for cheating on him, not to assault others to defend her non-existent honor

[@MichelleGodfearer]

6:46. Lash out at children

[@mcouto]

Mindfulness and breathing help me calm the Amygdala Hijack... IF I have time to catch that trigger! Luckily it only lasts a few moments before I realize that road fool, was me, haha

[@BrainAcademy1]

lol, yes. The self-righteousness quickly fades away...

[@ambergreen3973]

ughhhhhfffffffffffff! im bpd . im doing dbt its helpful but im alittle triggred and not satisfied with the material perhaps just the way i learn best. im doing the best. i am gathering knowlage i feel like i am my own phd Dr -_- ! with out the wage and allll the stress no validation -_- . i wish this was knowlage in DBT cuz this makes me feel validated and like im able to control the monster with in. which i willllllllll but DAMN.

[@Yash.alz.]

Perfecttttttt👌👌👌👌

[@icey1829]

Most of the times amygdyla hijack goes hhigh with teens

[@DarkSentinel52]

humans did not evolve to live in modern world so we have situations like this where we do irrational things

[@Tutta74]

Was in a big town with my brother and we had an appointment at the hospital . At noon And.y brother was a tTavel Guide🤪 I only thogh for the day This is a apportouneety for laght and joy My brother got us on a wrong route all We gigled all day a😭🤣😭😂 Got lost off course 🤣 We got a ride from stanger that had a VIP pass and got us to the meeting for n s ime.😂 My brother is fired as a lot travel agent🤣😂🤣

[@olgaanderson6975]

AHHHnI just had a amygdala Hijack!!! just midmorning snacks with my teenagers!

[@sherlockholmes6481]

sorry im in amygdala mood

[@clarrietesch3845]

funny hey,,,well little Johny said,,,u know the rest,,,lol

[@kiltilly98]

Yea, well, what if you happen to be Irish?

[@glennacasanova3584]

🅿🆁🅾🅼🅾🆂🅼 😘

[@homeontherange733]

I lost respect not on for Will, but the audience as well.

[@juditkiss4351]

How could an amygdala hijack be funny? You basically overreact for seemingly nothing. I have quite a few stories, but they are just not funny. I shall come back and update my comment if I remember any funny one, cause I want your course. 🤔😜

[@benshithero3037]

It shouldn't be put on lack of tigers we have this issue. More commonly it results sociopath and psychopath influence on our society that as much as it doesn't as often murder as much as harass, is still a pathology that involves the amygdala that regularly pathologically preys on the amygdala, and there are factors like. To spite only 1% of your general population is sociopath or psychopath. 24% of your corporate CEO population is sociopath or psychopath. So, it tends have wide spread influence such as in religion and politics and industry and mass media. Resulting such personalities commonly seek positions of influence and power in leadership and advisement and administration or information regulation. The author of that story did research on sociopaths and psychopaths at to write the book). Don't worry I'm sure everything's gonna be fine. Like said its only really 1% of people. They're just in charge of a lot of stuff is all, but if what you really need is a legitimate threat at to be more sane. There you go. No need for to wrongly employ tigers.