你为什么会感到焦虑？：英语精读讲义

Many of us have faced the dark symptoms of anxiety,

我们许多人都曾经历过焦虑带来的痛苦症状，

whether writing an exam or applying for a new job. 講解

无论是在参加考试，还是在申请新工作时。

But for some,

但对有些人来说，

this feeling is difficult to stop even in seemingly normal situations,

即使在看似正常的情境中，这种感觉也很难停止，

leaving a lasting effect on quality of life. 短語搭配

并会对生活质量造成持久影响。

So,

那么，

what's going on 短語動詞

这究竟是怎么回事，

and why are you so anxious?

你为什么会如此焦虑？

Close to 7 million people are affected by generalized anxiety disorder, 文化背景

近700万人受到广泛性焦虑障碍的影响，

meaning they experience excessive anxiety that occurs more days than not 習語

也就是说，他们过度焦虑的日子多于不焦虑的日子，

for at least 6 months.

而且这种情况至少持续6个月。

This can include sleep disturbance,

症状可能包括睡眠障碍、

irritability, and muscle tension.

易怒和肌肉紧张。

Panic attacks are also possible 文化背景

也可能会出现惊恐发作，

but slightly different

但它略有不同，

in that they are sudden and short episodes of intense fear 語法

表现为突然而短暂的强烈恐惧，

that trigger a severe physical reaction

并引发剧烈的生理反应，

like accelerated heart rate,

比如心跳加速、

shortness of breath, 用詞

呼吸急促

and dizziness.

和头晕。

In fact,

事实上，

anyone can experience a panic attack

任何人都有可能经历惊恐发作，

whether or not they have an anxiety disorder, 語法

无论是否患有焦虑障碍，

and it's not always triggered by something known or specific. 語法

而且诱因未必总是已知或明确的事物。

While not fully understood, 語法

尽管具体机制尚未完全弄清，

anxiety is partially triggered by the amygdala and hypothalamus,

焦虑在一定程度上是由杏仁核和下丘脑触发的，

controlling the circulation of cortisol and adrenaline in your body.

它们控制着体内皮质醇和肾上腺素的循环。

Genetically,

从遗传角度来看，

40% of those with generalized anxiety disorder

40%的广泛性焦虑障碍患者

also have a relative with it,

也有亲属患有这种障碍，

meaning these hormone levels are likely linked to your genes. 短語搭配

这意味着这些激素水平很可能与基因有关。

Your environment can also be a factor,

生活环境也可能是一个因素，

as certain anxiety disorders are related to traumatic childhood experiences.

因为某些焦虑障碍与童年创伤经历有关。

Varying levels of neurotransmitters like GABA,

GABA等神经递质的水平变化，

serotonin, and dopamine

以及血清素和多巴胺水平的变化，

may also be to blame. 習語

也可能是原因。

Serotonin,

血清素，

which contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness,

有助于产生安适和幸福感，

works by moving from neuron to neuron in your brain 語法

它在大脑中从一个神经元移动到另一个神经元，

through a gap called the synapse.

穿过一道叫作突触的间隙。

Any unused serotonin returns to the original neuron

未被利用的血清素会返回原来的神经元，

through a special transporter.

这个过程通过一种特殊的转运蛋白完成。

But for those with something like OCD,

但对于患有强迫症等疾病的人来说，

a type of anxiety disorder,

这类疾病属于焦虑障碍，

it has been suggested that a mutation in these transporters 表達脈絡

有观点认为，这些转运蛋白发生突变后，

creates a higher volume of returned serotonin

会使更多血清素被运回，

before it's had a chance to move to the receiving neuron, 語法

甚至没等它有机会移向接收端的神经元，

resulting in a decreased amount in the synapse, 表達脈絡

导致突触中的血清素减少，

ultimately affecting your emotions.

最终影响你的情绪。

This is why medications like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors 講解

这就是为什么选择性5-羟色胺再摄取抑制剂等药物

are often used in these anxiety cases

经常用于治疗这类焦虑病例，

to prevent the serotonin from returning to its original neuron. 語法

以阻止血清素返回原来的神经元。

Many anxiety disorders also show an overactive amygdala

许多焦虑障碍还伴有杏仁核

and periaqueductal gray area,

和导水管周围灰质过度活跃，

which can have negative repercussions not just on the brain, 講解

这不仅会给大脑带来负面影响，

but on our bodies.

还会影响我们的身体。

In a study of nearly 300 people over 5 years, 表達脈絡

一项对近300人进行的五年研究发现，

those who had overactive amygdalas

杏仁核过度活跃的人

had a higher incidence of heart disease too, 短語搭配

心脏病的发病率也更高，

as it triggers an increased production of white blood cells in the bone marrow,

因为这会促使骨髓产生更多白细胞，

leading to an inflammatory response

从而引发炎症反应，

which contributes to increased buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries.

使更多脂肪沉积在动脉内。

If you have a phobia,

如果你患有恐惧症，

that's considered an anxiety disorder too. 語法

那也被视为一种焦虑障碍。

But since many fears can help us survive,

不过，许多恐惧能帮助我们生存，

like the fear of spiders or heights,

比如对蜘蛛或高处的恐惧，

it's been suggested that they may be imprinted on our DNA 習語

因此有人认为，它们可能被烙印在我们的DNA中，

and passed on. 短語動詞

并遗传下去。

When mice are shocked with electricity

当小鼠受到电击，

after being exposed to the smell of fruits, 語法

而此前它们刚闻过水果气味时，

they quickly learn to fear that smell.

它们很快就学会害怕那种气味。

But more amazing is that the future generations of mice

但更惊人的是，它们的后代

also fear the fruit smells,

也会害怕水果的气味，

even though they've never been exposed to the shock. 語法

尽管这些后代从未遭受过电击。

It turns out that electrical shock led to overexpression 表達脈絡

原来，电击导致了

in certain odor receptors,

某些嗅觉受体的过度表达，

making the next generation more sensitive to certain smells, 語法

让下一代对某些气味更加敏感，

almost as though they were switched on. 講解

仿佛相关开关被打开了一样。

And these switches may be related to some phobias.

而这些开关可能与某些恐惧症有关。

When it comes to treatment, 表達脈絡

在治疗方面，

cognitive behavioral therapy helps identify certain thoughts 文化背景

认知行为疗法有助于找出某些想法，

that lead to the feelings influencing your behavior

这些想法会引发影响你行为的情绪，

and aims to change those initial thoughts

并试图改变最初的那些想法，

to combat anxiety disorders.

从而对抗焦虑障碍。

On the other hand, 表達脈絡

另一方面，

medications such as SSRIs and SNRIs 文化背景

SSRIs和SNRIs等药物

are often used to prevent reuptake of serotonin or norepinephrine,

常用于阻止血清素或去甲肾上腺素被再摄取，

but can result in many side effects 短語搭配

但可能引发许多副作用，

and often increase tolerance with prolonged use. 用詞

长期使用还常会让身体产生更强的耐受性。

Benzodiazepines are also used to help induce sleep 短語搭配

苯二氮䓬类药物也用于帮助入睡

and promote muscle relaxation, 短語搭配

和促进肌肉放松，

but are also linked to dementia in older populations.

但它们也被认为与老年人痴呆有关。

Needless to say, 語氣意圖

不用说，

the neurochemical basis of anxiety is extremely complicated,

焦虑背后的神经化学机制极其复杂，

and it's not useful to tell somebody

所以对一个人说

to just calm down or get over it. 講解

“冷静点”或“想开点”并没有用。

So,

所以，

we decided to make a second video

我们决定再制作一期视频，

breaking down what we do to combat anxiety 短語動詞

详细讲讲我们如何应对焦虑，

with some tips and tricks that we find work,

并分享一些我们觉得有效的小窍门，

which you can check out here.

点击这里就能观看。

And subscribe for more weekly science videos

也别忘了订阅，收看每周更新的科学视频，

every Thursday.

每周四准时上线。