Fear is bad for your brain.
For example:
Did you know that when a child is in a state of fear, his functional IQ can drop up to 40 points?
If it’s outright terror instead of merely fear, his IQ can drop by as much as 50 points 🤯
In other words, if a child has a normal IQ of 110 when calm and functioning normally but is then placed into a state of fear or terror (ie. scary parents, bad teachers and mean bullies), her IQ declines to 60-80 points.
This explains why children often have completely different capabilities depending on the environment or context that surrounds them.
It also explains why children from troubled or abusive homes struggle at school.
It’s not their fault. They’re not “bad kids” and nothing is wrong with them. They are NOT broken.
It’s just that their nervous systems are so ramped up in fight-or-flight mode that they can’t focus on school or reading or thinking clearly.
It makes sense if you think about it.
If there was a bear or tiger in front of you or some other kind of mortal threat (such as a screaming or absent parent, a dickhead bully or an asshole teacher or an exam that determines your future), you don’t need to think about it. There are no decisions to make. You simply need to run. NOW! (that’s the fear talking)
The same applies to adults like you and me.
If you ever wonder why you can’t focus or think clearly… or why it’s so damn hard to make decisions… or perhaps why you don’t know what you want or how to get it…
…instead of looking at the latest self-help book, look at your nervous system.
Are you experiencing signs and symptoms of being stuck in survival (fight, flight or even freeze)? 🤔
Common as air signs and symptoms like…
- Insomnia
- Racing thoughts
- Digestive issues
- Chronic fatigue
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Procrastination
- Fidgeting / can’t sit still
- Numb (can’t feel anything)
If so, then your problem isn’t that you need to work harder or believe in yourself or insert whatever pop culture self-help donkey shit you want 🙅‍♂️
The problem might simply be that you’re stuck in survival mode.
Your nervous system might be stuck in fight, flight or freeze mode (it’s usually a combination of all 3) as a result of a lifetime of unresolved stress.
That means if you want to increase your IQ so you can think more clearly, get more done and create the life that you want, you have to work directly with your nervous system.
That’s where The Rageheart Academy comes in.
It’s a step-by-step system for getting your nervous system “unstuck” and back into regulation, ease and strength.
It might even boost your IQ đź’Ş
Get started here:
Cheers,
John Wood
P.S. Know anyone who makes bad decisions and has trouble thinking clearly?
Refer them to The Daily Growl (this email newsletter) and give them better tools for reducing anxiety, reversing depression and improving their IQ.