--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: anxiety can be produced from two…" description: "\"“anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the brain; the cortex, which produces anxiety based on what we think about, and the amygdala, whic..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg" --- # anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the… ![“anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the brain; the cortex, which produces anxiety based on what we think about, and the amygdala, which reacts to what is happening in our environment.” quote by Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg) > ““anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the brain; the cortex, which produces anxiety based on what we think about, and the amygdala, which reacts to what is happening in our environment.”” [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Anxiety originates from two brain regions: the cortex creates worry from thoughts, while the amygdala reacts to external threats. **In simple terms:** Anxiety comes from thoughts and surroundings. Key Takeaway Recognize both mental and environmental triggers. Themes mental health neuroscience anxiety self-awareness Mood concerned reflective Type educational informative When to use this quote - therapy sessions - workplace stress - public speaking - personal reflection Key Concepts cortical processing amygdala response stress response Questions to Reflect On - How do your thoughts amplify anxiety? - What environmental cues trigger your amygdala? A Different Perspective Physical safety and social support can mitigate amygdala‑driven anxiety. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amygdala Reacts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amygdala-reacts-3971819/) [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Anxiety Produced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety-produced-3971817/) [Brain Cortex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain-cortex-3971820/) [Cortex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortex/) [Cortex Produces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cortex-produces-1563112/) [Think Amygdala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-amygdala-3971818/) ## Related quotes > [We are living in an era of anxiety produced by computer and communications technology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-kapor/we-are-living-in-an-era-of-anxiety-produced-by-computer-and/) [Mitch Kapor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-kapor/) > [You stimulate the neo-cortex, it produces a symphony. But it's not just a symphony of perception. It's a symphony of your universe. Your reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-markram/you-stimulate-the-neo-cortex-it-produces-a-symphony-but-it-s-not-just/) [Henry Markram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-markram/) > [“The amygdala responds to imaginary information in the same way it responds to a real situation, so anxiety brought about by thoughts and images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-amygdala-responds-to-imaginary-information-in-the-same-way-it/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Logically, when the amygdala wants to mobilize a behavior—say, fleeing—it talks to the frontal cortex, seeking its executive approval. But if sufficiently aroused, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/logically-when-the-amygdala-wants-to-mobilize-a-behavior-say-fleeing/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Powerful support for an amygdaloid role in fear processing comes from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In PTSD sufferers the amygdala is overreactive to mildly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/powerful-support-for-an-amygdaloid-role-in-fear-processing-comes-from/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The frontal lobes are one of the most important parts of the cortex to understand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-pittman/the-frontal-lobes-are-one-of-the-most-important-parts-of-the-cortex/) [Catherine M. Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-pittman/) > [“Moderate, transient stress (i.e., the good, stimulatory stress) promotes hippocampal LTP, while prolonged stress disrupts it and promotes LTD—one reason why cognition tanks at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/moderate-transient-stress-i-e-the-good-stimulatory-stress-promotes/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“It’s not until the non-NMDA has been stimulated over and over by a long train of glutamate release, allowing enough sodium to flow in,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/it-s-not-until-the-non-nmda-has-been-stimulated-over-and-over-by-a/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“Chapter 3 discusses some unsettling research—stick your average person in a brain scanner, and show him a picture of someone of another race for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/chapter-3-discusses-some-unsettling-research-stick-your-average/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Brains distinguish between an Us and a Them in a fraction of a second. Subliminal processing of a Them activates the amygdala and insular…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/brains-distinguish-between-an-us-and-a-them-in-a-fraction-of-a-second/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“The amygdala can accomplish its quick response because of the special properties of another nucleus within it: the central nucleus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-m-pittman/the-amygdala-can-accomplish-its-quick-response-because-of-the-special/) [Catherine M. Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-m-pittman/) > [Spatial working memory is impaired by stress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-davidson/spatial-working-memory-is-impaired-by-stress/) [Richard Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-davidson/) > [“Most broadly, the PFC chooses between conflicting options—Coke or Pepsi; blurting out what you really think or restraining yourself; pulling the trigger or not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/most-broadly-the-pfc-chooses-between-conflicting-options-coke-or/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [“We process emotionally salient information more rapidly and automatically, but with less accuracy. Frontal function—working memory, impulse control, executive decision making, risk assessment, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/we-process-emotionally-salient-information-more-rapidly-and/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [Visual cortex is fundamentally a machine whose job is to generate a model of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-eagleman/visual-cortex-is-fundamentally-a-machine-whose-job-is-to-generate-a/) [David Eagleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-eagleman/) ## More by Matt Lewis > [“Due to neuroplasticity, whatever you devote a lot of time to thinking about in great detail is more likely to be strengthened, creating a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/due-to-neuroplasticity-whatever-you-devote-a-lot-of-time-to-thinking/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“So our ancestors remembered every bad thing that happened and spent much of their lives anticipating more trouble, and this is the mind we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/so-our-ancestors-remembered-every-bad-thing-that-happened-and-spent/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“If we can see anxiety-inducing situations as opportunities to improve, grow, and become better at challenges, we are less likely to avoid or distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/if-we-can-see-anxiety-inducing-situations-as-opportunities-to-improve/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Scientists used to think the brain reached maturity around the age of 25 years and then deteriorated. Now we know it’s much more like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/scientists-used-to-think-the-brain-reached-maturity-around-the-age-of/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Research indicates that sufficient sleep has a large positive effect on a whole host of physical and mental aspects of our health, including: emotion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/research-indicates-that-sufficient-sleep-has-a-large-positive-effect/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Say (silently to yourself), ‘Thanks mind!’, ‘Thanks for sharing!’, ‘Is that right?’, ‘That’s amazing!’, ‘That’s so informative!’ Don’t do this sarcastically or aggressively, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/say-silently-to-yourself-thanks-mind-thanks-for-sharing-is-that-right/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“You can shove a cat in an oven, but that doesn't make it a biscuit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/you-can-shove-a-cat-in-an-oven-but-that-doesn-t-make-it-a-biscuit/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“The Confidence Cycle is also a reminder of how important a growth mindset is. We become good at something, and confident at doing it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-confidence-cycle-is-also-a-reminder-of-how-important-a-growth/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“The amygdala responds to imaginary information in the same way it responds to a real situation, so anxiety brought about by thoughts and images…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-amygdala-responds-to-imaginary-information-in-the-same-way-it/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“As an analogy, imagine you’re driving a bus, while all the passengers (thoughts) are noisily chattering, being critical, or shouting out directions. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/as-an-analogy-imagine-you-re-driving-a-bus-while-all-the-passengers/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“Indeed, long-term elevated cortisol levels can lower immune function and bone density; elevate blood pressure, cholesterol and body weight; increase the risk of heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/indeed-long-term-elevated-cortisol-levels-can-lower-immune-function/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“but they saw each failure as a necessary part of the process to getting things right. They embraced the failures because they told them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/but-they-saw-each-failure-as-a-necessary-part-of-the-process-to/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“In his book, The Happiness Trap, leading ACT practitioner Dr Russ Harris, explains that negative thoughts are only considered problematic if we get caught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/in-his-book-the-happiness-trap-leading-act-practitioner-dr-russ/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“When we defuse from our thoughts like this, we start to realise thoughts are nothing more or less than words or pictures and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/when-we-defuse-from-our-thoughts-like-this-we-start-to-realise/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) > [“The main purpose of defusion is to be present and to be able to take effective action. Defusion isn’t about battling with, blocking, distracting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/the-main-purpose-of-defusion-is-to-be-present-and-to-be-able-to-take/) [Matt Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) [Explore all 21 Matt Lewis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the brain; the cortex, which produces anxiety based on what we think about, and the amygdala, which reacts to what is happening in our environment.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matt Lewis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-different-areas-of-the-brain-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-different-areas-of-the-brain-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eac/matt-lewis-26480_anxiety_anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-differe_1255388.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“anxiety can be produced from two different areas of the brain; the cortex, which produces anxiety based on…” — Matt Lewis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matt Lewis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-lewis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“anxiety can be produced from two...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-different-areas-of-the-brain-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-lewis/anxiety-can-be-produced-from-two-different-areas-of-the-brain-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```