Signals of "Creeped out"

Being "creeped out" is something to pay attention to and analyze. It is likely the brain’s way of getting you to pay more attention to something that could turn out to be a threat. My work with women who had been date-raped revealed that often they had some sense of dis-ease with the person or felt something was a bit ‘off’—and they ignored it or tried to rationalize it away. Estimates are that your brain is capable of receiving and decoding up to 10 million bits of sensory data per second—far more than you are capable of processing at a level of conscious awareness. It tries to get your attention when it picks up something it believes you need to become aware of and process. It is usually wise to avoid dismissing such reactions or responses out of hand. Pay attention even when you cannot specifically define the reason you are experiencing the sensation. Some even have described their reaction as “feeling momentarily cold, almost like having a chill.” The brain picks up millions of data points per second as it scans the background environment, as it were. You could not concentrate on anything if you were trying to decode and understand all those sensory stimuli. There can be many reasons for the brain perceiving that something is ‘off.’ When it does, however, the only way it can get your attention is by surfacing one of the core protective emotions in the hope that you ‘listen up.’

“Creeped out” & the Brain

The other day my friend said she felt “creeped out.” Is there such a thing and, if so, have there been any studies about it?

The first empirical study on the common psychological experience of feeling creeped out (that I am aware of) was conducted by Francis T. McAndrew and Sara S. Koehnke of the Department of Psychology, Knox College, Galesburg, IL. The article “On the Nature of Creepiness” was published in New Ideas in Psychology, March 2016. The researchers propose that creepy is a qualitatively different characteristic as compared with concepts such as being terrified or disgusted. In those situations the conclusions drawn about the person in question are much more clear-cut. Rather it may be related to the brain’s agency-detection mechanisms. Some study conclusions were:

 Individuals perceived as creepy are more likely to be males

Some occupations and hobbies are more strongly linked with creepiness than others (with clowns leading the list)

Females are more likely to perceive sexual threat from an individual perceived as creepy

The trait of unpredictability is an important component of creepiness

20:80 Rule & Balance

I like what you have been writing about homeostasis or balance. It is helpful. I have been endeavoring to live the 20:80 Rule and it is VERY helpful. Would that help with balance?

 
Absolutely, in my brain’s opinion. For those who may have missed the blogs on it, the 20:80 Rule comes from the 2^nd Century philosopher, Epictetus. He taught that when you are confronted with a stressor and experience distress, remember that only 20 percent of the distress you are experiencing has anything to do with the event. 80 percent has to do with the weight you are giving to the event, its level of perceived importance in your life, and how you are viewing it. This means that when you cannot avoid the event, you can have 20 percent of the negativity impact you. However, you can do everything about the 80 percent because your brain creates our perceptions. Living the 20:80 Rule can help you avoid giant pendulum swings that push you from one extreme to the other. Not only can it help you minimize negative consequences to your brain and body from stressors, but it can also help you keep a balanced perspective when confronted with the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Allow it to enable you to laugh at the vagaries of life—with a sense of humor and style all your own—and thrive by design. 

Tips on Balance

         

 Stop majoring in minors. Identify what is major and focus on that. Let the rest, the minor stuff, go.

 Destress with brain breathing, the Quieting Reflex, music, or other strategy that works for your brain and body

     Get your mindset and self-talk in line to maximize your available energy

 Decide if you choose to be at the beck and call to whomever decides they want you for something—now. Choose how available you will be with the world at large.

 Take time to reflect, play, and have fun—life goes by faster than you might think

 Be intentional and balanced about social media—avoid allowing it to eat up valuable time every day. Studies suggest that those who spend the most time each day social media tends to be more anxious and less happy and satisfied with life.

 Go for the gold—Balance!

Tell Your Brain What You Want it to Do

The brain works best in balance. Period. But it can only do what it thinks it can do and your mindset and self-talk convey to it what it can do. Be intentional. Tell it what you want it to help you do. Following are some things to consider.

 Simplify and stop trying to keep up with anyone else—it’s your life, your energy, and your longevity

 Shut off all electronics an hour before bedtime (unless you must specifically be ‘on call’) or wear glasses that block blue light waves—they keep the brain alert

 Keep all electronics out of your bedroom as studies show they can impact your sleep even when the devices are shut down.

Let your phone go to voice mail during mealtimes; disable work email when on a holiday or at least check it only once or twice a day for brief periods. 

No One Gets it All

In life, you always give up something to get something. And when you give something up you get something else. That mindset is what helps keep you and life in balance. Awareness is the first step on the ladder of positive change. You can only manage what you can bring to conscious awareness, label, and describe. Become more aware of the way you are living your life and whether or not it is in balance. You can help prevent burnout or get back in balance by looking at the big picture and deciding what is most important at this stage of your life. Set your priorities and stick to them by working smarter and not harder, by saying ‘no’ when you have reached your capacity (and know what that is). An increase in conscious awareness could pay huge dividends to enhance your health, wellbeing, and balance. When something new comes into your life (a baby, hobby, or friend) be willing and proactive about giving something up (e.g., a museum-quality home environment, or doing all the house and yard work yourself). You can take charge of your life and pull your own strings, or you can allow yourself to be manipulated like a puppet. Pulling your own strings is the best way to stay in balance. 

Times--They are A-changing

It is no longer life as your grandparents knew it. It is not even life as hour parents knew it. You live on a planet that is now frantic with technologies, frenetic with challenges, and filled with inconsistencies and instability. Some technologies are helpful; some not so much. Inconsistencies and instability? Just watch the news if you dare keeping doing that to our brain and emotions. Your brain is exposed to and receives thousands of times more information and stimuli than brains received only a scant generation ago. Unless you are vigilant, the ever-increasing stimuli your brain receives can push its functions off balance. It has been said that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life. Yeah, maybe, but only if you keep your life in balance. If you don’t, you may end up hating what you once loved. No one is immune to burnout. It can creep up on you stealthily, especially when you keep adding tasks and activities without dropping others. Live in balance. Down the line that can help you avoid lamenting that you forgot to ‘smell the roses’ or failed to spend quality time with good friends and family, or spent way too much time on the job.