A Calm Brain: How to Relax into a Stress-Free, High-Powered Life

by Gayatri Devi

Overview

In a world filled with too many choices, oppressive technology, and relentlessly overbooked schedules—how do we achieve the calm we so desperately need?

Our ancestors used the fight-or-flight mechanism to protect themselves from predators. Today, we use it to fend off daily crises. The result is chronic stress and a learned inability to be calm which, in turn, makes it impossible for us to perform at our peak.

Now, Dr. Gayatri Devi shows how we can cultivate empowering, enduring calm by tapping into our body’s vagus nerve—and utilize our hardwired, natural relaxation system. If you are suffering from migraines, neck pain, gastrointestinal upsets, sleeps deprivation—or are just trying to work through life’s difficulties—Dr. Devi shows that you don’t need more drugs, you need A Calm Brain.

“For anyone who wants to take charge of the 21st century while remaining calm, focused, and productive—this is the book for you.”
—Henry S. Lodge, New York Times bestselling author of Younger Next Year

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780142196861
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	03/26/2013
Pages:	288
Sales rank:	1,160,140
Product dimensions:	5.26(w) x 7.95(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Gayatri Devi, M.D., is a neurologist, the Director of the New York Memory Services, and a Clinical Associate Professor at the New York University School of Medicine. She lives in Manhattan.

Table of Contents

Introduction: My Grandfather's Secret 1

1 The Un-Calm, Modern Brain 11

2 The Core Brain, Architect of Calm 39

3 Getting to Calm from the Bottom Up 55

4 Why Ever Stress? 77

5 Top-Down Judgment 101

6 Gatekeepers 131

7 The Mother of All Calm 151

8 The Stress of the Two XX's 179

9 Calm Parenting Is Possible! 203

10 Weaving a Tapestry of Calm 221

References and Suggested Additional Reading 245

Index 263

Editorial Reviews

"A welcome alternative approach to overtaxing our brains and then reaching for the pill bottle—should warrant serious attention."—Kirkus

“A Calm Brain brings the power of cutting edge neuroscience to everyday life. For anyone who wants to take charge of the 21st century while remaining calm, focused and productive - this is the book for you”—Henry S. Lodge M.D., author of The New York Times bestseller Younger Next Year

“A Calm Brain shows readers why the brain craves calm, and how this will improve your health and happiness.  Blending stories, science, and practical advice, it offers a path to a calmer life.”—Paul J. Zak, author of The Moral Molecule

“Dr. Devi explores the brain of tranquility in this wonderful book filled with practical ideas that can bring composure to our mind and body in the rush of our daily turbulent and multitasking lives.”—Kevin Nelson M.D., author of The Spiritual Doorway in the Brain

“Simple and powerful techniques for breaking the vicious cycle of stress and poor health. Grounded in the best science, this is a wonderful prescription for leading happier and more productive lives.” —P. Murali Doraiswamy M.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Mental Fitness Lab, Duke University

From the Publisher

A neurologist who specializes in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and dementia explores how we can tap into "the neurology and physiology of our body's innate 'calm' mechanisms" to achieve greater health, happiness and success. The director of the New York Memory and Healthy Aging services, Devi (What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Alzheimer's Disease, 2004, etc.) unravels the functioning of the core brain, where gut reactions are processed, and explains how we can train ourselves to relax and recharge in order to face the 24/7 pressures of the fast-paced modern world. The author describes the way in which the core brain works by controlling emotions and impulses as we navigate the outside world "and the vast environmental sensor and receptacle that is our body." Fight-or-flight reactions, as well as our relative sense of well-being or malaise, are mediated there by the vagus nerve, a frequently overlooked neural conduit that bypasses the spinal cord to connect with the body's organs. It provides a constant stream of information that tells the brain when to stress out and when to relax and monitors processes such as blood pressure. The core brain is the seat of the sympathetic nervous system, which releases an adrenaline surge when we perceive danger, and the parasympathetic system, which provides the all-clear signal when it is safe to calm down. Devi provides anecdotal evidence suggesting that meditation and yoga, by releasing bodily tension, cue the brain to relax, and she examines how affectionate gestures and shared laughter provide a similar release. A welcome alternative approach to overtaxing our brains and then reaching for the pill bottle--should warrant serious attention.

Kirkus Reviews