Emotional Re-Appraisal is one of the most effective methods today in dealing with emotional arousal. The technique involves taking an initial reaction and re-evaluating it. This evaluation or appraisal diffuses the impact of the initial response and alleviates anxious symptoms. Unfortunately neurological mechanisms of performing the appraisal take place in the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which research suggests is impaired in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety issues. The impaired prefrontal cortex makes it more difficult for them to perform an emotional re-appraisal, though studies have not determined if this is a cause or effect of anxiety.
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