Your Brain Under Stress: It’s Not Just You, It’s Your Amygdala

Your amygdala is your brain’s drama queen, pulling strings on your decisions in more ways than you might care to admit.

The Science Of Self
6 min readOct 11, 2023
Woman in a vast open space, deeply contemplating multiple options, surrounded by a swirl of colorful ideas, questions, and actions, illustrating active amygdala engagement in decision-making.
Image generated by AI based on a prompt by The Science Of Self. Copyright 2023

Listen, we all know life is full of decisions — from the mundane, like choosing between skimmed and whole milk, to the life-altering, like buying a house.

Situated within your cranial confines, there is an almond-shaped bundle of neurons that has a significant impact, isn’t just sitting there idly; it’s hard at work, especially when you’re stressed. It’s your amygdala and some say it holds significant sway over your decisions.

In this article, you’ll learn how your amygdala plays a vital role in decision-making, the biological role of stress, and even pick up some actionable tips to trick your brain into making better choices. This is your shortcut to becoming a decision-making maestro!

Understanding the Amygdala’s Role in Decision-Making

The amygdala is your emotional command centre, intricately weaving emotions into your choices by evaluating risks and rewards.

However it doesn’t run the show alone when it comes to your decisions. It’s a team player, collaborating closely with the…

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