REALLYNICE

while you were asleep. your brains security guard, a small almond, stayed wide awake even though the inner imaginary neighborhood had a near zero crime rate. any time it got tired it would chug gallons of stress – financial, existential, regret until your eyes saw morning light or at least the sky blue enough to know it was coming soon. then as the clouds of the night pass, it paves way for the feeling of possibility.

and this is what is happening when you wake up in the middle of the night and panic.

The amygdala is an almond-shaped mass of grey matter in the brain that is primarily responsible for emotional responses, especially in situations involving anxiety, fear, or rage. It plays a key role in identifying potential threats and triggering appropriate reactions, such as the ‘fight or flight’ response.

AND IT DOESN’T SLEEP. NO NOT LIKE YOU. OR THE REST OF YOU. OR THE REST OF YOUR BRAIN. JUST THIS ONE PART DOES NOT REST. like a small angry passive aggressive cop who achieves full unadulterated power in the night time.

And this is why you wake up and immediately think the worst things. Because the parts of the brain that manufacture things that are not “anxiety, fear or ‘fight or flight’” have not awoken yet.

Good news – All gets better with time.

Eat your almonds.

Hope that helps.