Why Does the Brain Always Need Something to Worry About?
Hi - My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I’m a Clinical Solution-Focused Hypnotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire and also work online nationally.
Why Our Brains Look for Trouble
Have you ever noticed how your mind can latch onto the tiniest things and blow them up into something massive? You’re not alone. Neuroscience suggests that our brains are not actually wired for constant happiness or calm — they’re wired for survival.
Thousands of years ago, it was useful to scan the horizon for threats. A rustle in the bushes could have been dinner… or danger. Fast forward to today, and most of us don’t face wild animals — but our brains haven’t updated the software. Instead, that same scanning system often zooms in on emails, awkward conversations, or even what we said three days ago in a meeting.
This is part of what’s known as the ‘negativity bias’ — the tendency to notice and dwell more on possible threats than on positives (Rozin and Royzman, 2001). It’s protective, but it comes at a cost: it makes our “fight, flight, or freeze” system fire up in everyday situations that aren’t really life-threatening
The Science of Worry - Why Contentment Feels Slippery
A lot of research suggests the brain has a kind of “baseline” level of mood and alertness. The ‘default mode network’ is active when we’re not focused on anything specific — and guess what it loves? Rumination, self-criticism, and going over the past or future (Raichle, 2015).
When life is relatively safe, that system doesn’t switch off. Instead, it can search for new things to chew over — which might explain why small stressors can sometimes feel overwhelming. (McEwen,2007) even showed how ongoing stress can physically shape the brain, making the amygdala (the fear centre) more reactive and the prefrontal cortex (the calm, rational part) less effective.
So, if you’ve ever thought “Why am I reacting like this? It’s not even a big deal,” the answer is: your brain is doing exactly what it evolved to do.
Worry, Resilience, and the Stress Response
The stress response itself isn’t “bad” — it keeps us sharp when we need it. But when it fires too often, the body gets stuck in high alert. Chronic activation can increase anxiety, affect sleep, and drain resilience (Sapolsky, 2004).
Here’s the kicker: because the brain is always balancing threat and safety, happiness isn’t a “default state.” Contentment needs to be created and maintained. That doesn’t mean constant positivity (which isn’t realistic either) — it means giving the brain regular experiences that signal: you’re safe, you’re okay.
This is where resilience comes in. Resilience doesn’t mean never feeling stressed. It means being able to recover, reset, and regain balance. The brain is plastic — it can rewire and strengthen more adaptive pathways when given the chance (Davidson and McEwen, 2012).
How Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy Fits In
So, where does Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy come into this picture? This approach works with the brain’s natural systems rather than against them.
Positive thought, positive action, positive interaction — the “3Ps” we focus on in sessions — aren’t just nice ideas. They stimulate the brain’s reward circuits, helping balance out that negativity bias.
The miracle question (“Suppose tonight while you sleep, something changes, and tomorrow life feels better — what’s the first thing you’d notice?”) engages the prefrontal cortex. It encourages solution-seeking rather than problem-fixating, pulling the brain gently away from rumination.
Hypnosis itself is a state that calms the stress response. Research shows relaxation and guided imagery reduce cortisol levels and activate parasympathetic (rest and digest) pathways (Gruzelier, 2002).
Clients often describe this as giving their brain “a reset button.” Over time, repetition of these techniques helps to re-train the brain’s threat system so it doesn’t overreact to everyday triggers.
Putting It Together
So, yes — it can feel like the brain “always needs something to worry about.” That’s part of being human. But understanding the neuroscience behind it helps us see that worry isn’t weakness — it’s wiring. And just as old wiring can be re-routed, so too can the brain learn new ways of responding.
Through simple but powerful practices like the 3Ps, scaling questions, and guided trance work, Solution-Focused Hypnotherapy provides tools for people to reconnect with calm, balance, and resilience. In other words, we can’t stop the brain from scanning for danger — but we can teach it to also notice safety, possibility, and hope.
References
Davidson, R.J. and McEwen, B.S. (2012) ‘Social influences on neuroplasticity: stress and interventions to promote well-being’, Nature Neuroscience, 15(5), pp. 689–695.
Gruzelier, J. (2002) ‘A review of the impact of hypnosis, relaxation, guided imagery and meditation on immunity and health’, Stress, 5(2), pp. 147–163.
McEwen, B.S. (2007) ‘Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain’, Physiological Reviews, 87(3), pp. 873–904.
Raichle, M.E. (2015) ‘The brain’s default mode network’, Annual Review of Neuroscience, 38, pp. 433–447.
Rozin, P. and Royzman, E.B. (2001) ‘Negativity bias, negativity dominance, and contagion’, Personality and Social Psychology Review, 5(4), pp. 296–320.
This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute therapeutic advice, diagnosis, or a substitute for professional mental health care. The content is based on published research and reflects current academic and clinical perspectives on the role of artificial intelligence in mental health support. Readers are encouraged to seek guidance from a qualified therapist or medical professional for personalised support. This article does not imply or promote the use of AI as a replacement for regulated therapy.
The author is a qualified therapist; however, this blog is not a therapy session, nor does reading it establish a therapeutic relationship.
If you are in emotional distress or experiencing a mental health crisis, please contact your GP, a mental health professional, or an appropriate emergency service.
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My name is Andy Selway-Woolley (he/him) and I am a fully qualified Clinical Solution Focused Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapist. I run HeadFirst Hypnotherapy®, based in Upper Heyford (near Bicester), Oxfordshire.
I assist people in regaining control of their lives by retraining their brains to overcome limiting thought patterns, master their emotions, and cultivate resilient behaviours for a brighter and more positive future.. I know… It’s awesome!
a nutshell, I ‘get you out of your own way’. Because, let’s face it, a lot of us are.
Solution Focused Hypnotherapy taps into the power of your subconscious mind so you can move forward towards the life you’ve always wanted to live. It’s a quick, practical way to address thought patterns, emotions and behaviours that are holding you back in life.
I’m a registered and accredited member of the Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Association for Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (AfSFH) and National Council for Hypnotherapy (NCH).
I service the main towns and cities around Upper Heyford, including Bicester, Banbury, Oxford, Kidlington, Witney, Brackley, Charlbury, Northampton, Buckingham, Chipping Norton, Thame, Didcot, Abingdon, Henley-on-Thames, and Aylesbury, along with other local areas.
I also work nationally and offer remote hypnotherapy services online, so no matter where you're based, support is just a click away!