You think you drink to relax—but what if alcohol is actually training your body to panic? John Makohen, CASAC, explains how alcohol rewires your stress system, creating 'fake emergencies' that drive anxiety and cravings. This piece translates neuroscience into real-world patterns and offers practical strategies to restore calm.

Anxiety is not just a feeling — it is a pattern of activity in the brain. Dr. Michael Newman explains how anxiety involves hyperactivity in the amygdala, dysregulated cortisol levels, and weakened communication between emotional and rational brain centers. He explores how exercise can biologically rewire these pathways, promoting neuroplasticity, reducing stress hormones, and strengthening emotional regulation.