Neuroplasticity and Mental Wellbeing

Using the adaptive quality of the mind to create an upward spiral

We all experience a level of worry in our lives. By the time an average person starts their day, they will experience innumerable worrying thoughts: How will I take care of my family? Will I do well at my job today? What if something comes up that I am not able handle?, etc. According to the latest Mental Health Research Canada poll, Canadians are experiencing unprecedented mental distress due to the pandemic, with common mental disorders reaching the highest levels ever. Young adults, women, and ethnic minorities have been disproportionately affected with anxiety and depression, while suicidal ideation among young people has reached a catastrophic rate of 20%.

It seems that the constant chatter in our mind is here to stay… But is there a better way to understand the worrying mind? Can we gain a more direct access to the mind by looking into the mechanisms of worry, thereby opening a window into a new way of thinking and being?

Neuroplasticity and the Worrying Mind

The human brain is incredibly plastic — it has a great ability to adapt and change. Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to constantly create new neural connections through learning and life experiences. While some neural connections become stronger, other connections become weaker. What does this mean for our tendency to worry? It means that if we start worrying, and if we worry more each day, we…