Brain Modes is a short hand way of looking at what state we find ourselves in when we use some interoception to look inwards. While we only have one brain, we can use our brains in different ways depending on our perceived needs and current options. We will switch our brain to various modes to be Creative, Recouperating or Survival.

Creative Mode

In this state of mind, we feel comfortable, happy and want invest in doing things for a later time. We have the Dopamine to see connections and creative solutions, and sufficient Norepinephrine to put energy into initiating non-critical and non-urgent tasks.

This is an excellent learning state. Our solutions focus on Work Smarter rather Work Harder.

Flow State

Sometimes we can enter into a state of mind where our enjoyment at learning and achieving triggers more neurotransmitter release. In this state of mind, we find that everything just flows and time can seem meaningless. This can lead to a very positive Hyper Focus with Creativity and Achievement being the central happy feel.

Survival Mode

Survival Mode is a brain state that manages various states of threat. This would normally be in the presence of either Expected Likely Threat, triggering Critical Mode, or Clear and Present Threat, triggering Crisis Mode.

Our Survival Brain is all about about manging a threat by activiting the Freeze, Fawn, Flight and Fight choices to manage a physical threat. We have coopted that to also manage psychic threats – an intelectual, identity or emotional threat. Once the threat has been manage via a direct Freeze, Fawn, Flight or Fight action, or through a better nuanced creative solution, we switch back out of this state of mind.

However, we sometimes get switched into this state of mind by something that isn’t an actual threat. It could be a memory, or a false perception of threat, or more likely a biological problem with a neurology, cardiopulminary system etc. The problem with these non-circumstance driven causes of Survival Mode is that we are hard wired to expect that the cause is external to us, to handle the actual threat of the lion / tiger / emergency, rather than instrospectively realise that we actually need to sort out our internal health.

Critical Mode

In this state of mind, we think that there is an urgent and critical thing that needs to be done. This can be triggered by various urgencies (due date, friend coming over, expectations and judgement).

In this state we narrow our creativity, and focus on practical solutions. While creativity is narrowed, it isn’t gone, so we are able to logically and creatively add to solutions, but the emphasis is more on “doing” than “solving”.

This state of mind is quite familiar to ADHDers who hand things in at the last minute. It may be good, but it could have been better. It is important to acknowledge that “good enough” is often good enough, but it doesn’t feel good.

Sometimes people enter Hyper Focus with an urgent feel. This is where “only this task” exists and we can break lots of time limits. It often feels like “one more thing before I stop”.

Our solutions focus on Persistence Wins rather than Work Smarter.

Crisis Mode

In this state of mind, we need something done and we need it now. It can feel very pressured and we have no room to think things through, because this is a Crisis damnit.

Our creativity and learning are minimal. We decrease our solution space to Flight and Fight and there is little to no “think it through”. Dexterity is often down and we will frequently be physically clumsy.

Our solutions focus on Push Harder or Escape rather than Work Smarter.