#Anxiety

“Air hunger,” a symptom of anxiety often overshadowed by more widely recognized manifestations, is gaining attention for its profound impact on individuals’ mental health and daily functioning. Originating from a sense of being unable to fully breathe despite adequate oxygen availability, this condition is medically known as dyspnea but manifests starkly different when linked with anxiety disorders. This revelation is crucial as it sheds light on a facet of anxiety that many experience yet few understand by name.

Air hunger is a lesser-known anxiety symptom that can quietly disrupt daily routines. It describes the feeling of not getting enough air even when oxygen levels are normal. Medically, this condition relates to dyspnea, but its link to anxiety makes the sensation distinct and more complex. Recognizing air hunger helps people understand a frustrating, often misunderstood experience.

For readers in Thailand, the message resonates amid Bangkok’s fast pace and air quality challenges. Stress can trigger the body’s “fight or flight” response, a familiar concept for those facing exams, presentations, or high-pressure work. In modern life, this reflex can overshoot, contributing to episodes of air hunger rather than protecting us.

New research from MIT and Harvard Medical School shows that cytokines—immune molecules that battle infections—also influence brain function and behavior. The findings suggest that illness can alter mood and social interactions not only through fatigue but via direct immune-brain connections. This could help explain aspects of conditions such as autism and depression.

Among the cytokines studied, IL-17 appears to have region-specific effects in the brain. In the amygdala, IL-17 heightens anxiety, while in the somatosensory cortex it seems to increase sociability. The results highlight a complex dialogue between the immune system and neural circuits, pointing to new avenues for understanding how immune activity shapes behavior during illness.

Recent cutting-edge research from MIT and Harvard Medical School reveals that cytokines, immune molecules that play a crucial role in fighting infections, also affect brain functions, inducing profound behavioral changes such as anxiety or increased sociability. This discovery opens new avenues for understanding the interconnectedness of the immune and nervous systems and illuminates potential pathways for treating neurological conditions like autism and depression.

Cytokines, including a variety named IL-17, have been the focus of these transformative studies. Researchers discovered that IL-17 operates in the brain’s distinct regions—the amygdala and the somatosensory cortex—eliciting contrasting effects. Within the amygdala, IL-17 induces anxiety, while in the cortex, it promotes sociability. These dual roles underscore a complex interaction between the brain and immune system, suggesting that behavioral changes during illness are not solely due to physical fatigue but also to brain functions being directly modulated by immune activity.

A new study from researchers at MIT and Harvard Medical School reveals that the immune molecule IL-17 can influence social behavior and anxiety by acting directly on specific brain regions. The research shows IL-17 has a dual role: it enhances sociability by dampening neuron activity in the cortex, while it increases anxiety by heightening excitability in the amygdala. In effect, IL-17 appears to function as a neuromodulator, linking immune system activity with how we feel and behave. This insight could inform future approaches to conditions such as autism and depression, according to the study’s findings and interpretations from leading neuroscience outlets.

Recent research led by MIT and Harvard Medical School has uncovered the intriguing role that the immune molecule interleukin-17 (IL-17) plays in shaping social behavior and anxiety by acting directly on specific brain regions. This groundbreaking study reveals that IL-17 serves dual functions: enhancing sociability by reducing neuron excitability in the brain’s cortex and triggering anxiety by increasing excitability in the amygdala. These findings suggest IL-17 acts like a neuromodulator, drawing a fascinating link between immune system activity and behavioral outcomes, with potential implications for the treatment of conditions like autism and depression (Neuroscience News).

A recent survey reveals a growing trend among Gen Z and millennials: the intentional scheduling of “worry time” to manage persistent anxiety. Conducted by Talker Research for Avocado Green Mattress, the study surveyed 2,000 Americans and found that 10% of younger respondents dedicate specific times to worry each day. This practice contrasts sharply with only 3% of older generations, like Gen X and baby boomers, who do the same.

This practice of scheduling worry time is reported to help participants limit their anxiety and improve mental health, providing a controlled space to manage stress, thereby reducing the overall time spent worrying. The research highlights that 62% of Gen Z and millennials feel trapped in a constant state of worry, compared to 38% among Gen X and baby boomers. On average, respondents worry for two hours and 18 minutes daily, typically peaking when they are alone, before falling asleep, or upon waking.

A recent survey uncovered a growing habit among Gen Z and millennials: they set specific times to worry each day. Conducted by Talker Research for Avocado Green Mattress, the study surveyed 2,000 Americans. It found that 10% of younger respondents designate dedicated worry periods, while only 3% of Gen X and baby boomers do the same.

Experts say this deliberate timing can help limit anxiety by providing a controlled space to process stress, potentially reducing overall rumination. The research shows 62% of Gen Z and millennials feel trapped in constant worry, compared with 38% of older generations. On average, respondents spend about two hours and 18 minutes worrying daily, with peaks when alone, late at night, or early in the morning.

With the spotlight often focused on anxiety attacks, many might overlook the equally impactful but lesser-known “depression attack.” Highlighted recently by HuffPost’s report, this continues to be a growing concern in mental health discussions. Unlike the clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), depression attacks describe a sudden, intense wave of despair and emotional paralysis, as explained by clinical psychologist Comfort Shields, indicating an immediate need for awareness and understanding.

In Thailand, where mental health often intertwines deeply with cultural taboos and socioeconomic challenges, understanding this phenomenon can empower individuals to seek support and acknowledge their mental wellbeing. While depression attacks aren’t clinically diagnosed, they manifest through sharp “attacks” of severe sadness and feelings of helplessness, unlike the prolonged nature of MDD. Monica Amorosi, a licensed mental health counselor, suggests these attacks may seem sudden but are often the result of intensified symptoms due to various triggers.

A breakthrough study from the BIAL Foundation reveals how specific neurons in the brain can reclassify stimuli as dangerous or rewarding, a process vital for survival and mental health. This research provides insights into how the brain learns to differentiate between what to fear and what to embrace, findings that could generate new treatments for anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The significance of this study for Thai readers lies in its potential to improve mental health therapies. Thailand, like many other countries, struggles with mental health issues where anxiety and PTSD are prevalent. Understanding the brain’s ability to reassess danger and reward can guide effective intervention strategies.

A recent breakthrough from researchers at the BIAL Foundation shows how two neuron types in the nucleus accumbens help the brain reclassify stimuli as dangerous or rewarding. This re-evaluation is crucial for learning what to fear and what to seek, with important implications for anxiety and PTSD treatment.

For Thai readers, the study holds promise for improving mental health therapies in a country where anxiety and trauma-related conditions are a concern. Understanding how the brain updates fear and reward could guide more effective interventions that fit Thai cultural contexts and care standards.