Anxiety

Pure Anxiety is often linked to increased activity in the basal ganglia, the part of the brain responsible for regulating fear and anxiety. This overactivity can raise your mental “idle speed,” making it difficult to relax—even without an obvious trigger. Individuals may struggle to manage their anxiety despite no real danger being present.

• Constant nervousness or uneasiness

• Chronic worry, often expecting worst-case scenarios

• Physical tension such as headaches, trembling, or tight muscles

• Rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea, or other physical discomfort

• Persistent fears or specific phobias

• Avoiding confrontation or conflict

• Intense fear of judgment or criticism

• Easily startled by noises or surprises

• Feeling frozen in stressful or fearful situations

• Panic attacks

• Avoidance of public places due to fear of panic (agoraphobia)

• Extreme shyness or embarrassment in social settings (social anxiety)

• Nail biting or skin picking

Pure Depression is typically associated with excessive activity in the deep limbic system—your brain’s emotional center. This type ranges from low-grade, ongoing sadness (dysthymia) to major depressive episodes that can significantly impact daily life.

Key symptoms of Pure Depression may include:

• Ongoing low mood or sadness

• Loss of interest in hobbies, relationships, or intimacy

• Increased irritability, restlessness, or frequent crying

• Feelings of hopelessness, guilt, or worthlessness

• Sleep disturbances—sleeping too much or too little

• Changes in appetite, leading to weight loss or gain

• Low energy or chronic fatigue

• Suicidal thoughts or past suicide attempts

• Difficulty focusing, remembering, or making choices

• Physical complaints like headaches or stomach issues without clear cause

• Persistent negative thinking or low self-esteem

• Feeling bored or unfulfilled most of the time

This type includes overlapping symptoms of both Pure Anxiety and Pure Depression. Brain scans often reveal increased activity in both the basal ganglia and the deep limbic system. While one set of symptoms may dominate at times, signs of both anxiety and depression are usually present consistently.

In this subtype, excessive activity in the anterior cingulate gyrus, basal ganglia, and/or limbic system leads to rigid thinking patterns and repetitive behaviors. This type is more commonly seen in individuals with a family history of addiction. People often fixate on worries or negative thoughts and struggle with flexibility.

In addition to 4+ symptoms from Pure Anxiety or Depression, common traits include:

• Obsessive or excessive worrying

• Discomfort when things feel disorganized or off-schedule

• Being argumentative or oppositional

• Looping negative thoughts or fears

• Compulsive or addictive behavior tendencies

• Resistance to change

• Holding grudges or being unforgiving

• Inability to consider alternative viewpoints

• Distress when routines aren’t followed

• Being told you worry excessively

• Saying “no” automatically without considering the request

This type involves irregular activity in the temporal lobes, often paired with high activity in the basal ganglia or limbic areas. The temporal lobes affect mood, emotional stability, and memory. When dysregulated, they can trigger intense emotional and behavioral symptoms.

In addition to core anxiety or depression symptoms, signs may include:

• Short temper or irritability

• Episodes of anger without clear cause

• Misunderstanding comments as critical or negative

• Feeling spaced out or confused

• Sudden fear or panic without clear reason

• Sensory disturbances (e.g., visual shadows, muffled sounds)

• Déjà vu sensations

• Heightened sensitivity to surroundings or mild paranoia

• Physical discomfort like headaches or stomach pain with no medical cause

• History of head trauma

• Family history of aggression or emotional instability

• Intrusive or dark thoughts

• Forgetfulness or memory gaps

Cyclic Anxiety/Depression is marked by fluctuating symptoms due to extreme activity in emotional brain regions. These shifts can feel like emotional “storms” that come and go without warning. Disorders like bipolar disorder, cyclothymia, PMS-related mood shifts, and panic disorder fall under this type due to their episodic nature.

In addition to symptoms of anxiety or depression, episodes may include:

• Dramatic mood swings—highs or lows

• Needing little sleep but still feeling energetic

• Inflated self-esteem or unrealistic ideas

• Talking more than usual or feeling rushed to speak

• Rapid thoughts or mental “racing”

• Surges of energy or restlessness

• Reckless decisions or behavior unlike your usual self

• Socially inappropriate actions

• Aggression or agitation

• Hallucinations or delusional thinking

This subtype stems from low activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the brain’s center for focus, judgment, and self-regulation—combined with high activity in the emotional centers. The result is a scattered mind paired with emotional overwhelm. It can be difficult to distinguish from ADD/ADHD without brain imaging.

Alongside standard anxiety or depression symptoms, additional signs may include:

• Trouble concentrating or staying focused

• Disorganization or poor time management

• Difficulty controlling impulses