Author Archives: Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

About Shay Seaborne, CPTSD

Former tall ship sailor turned trauma awareness activist-artist Shay Seaborne, CPTSD has studied the neurobiology of fear / trauma /PTSD since 2015. She writes, speaks, teaches, and makes art to convey her experiences as well as her understanding of the neurobiology of fear, trauma theory, and principles of trauma recovery. A native of Northern Virginia, Shay settled in Delaware to sail KALMAR NYCKEL, the state’s tall ship. She wishes everyone could recognize PTSD is not a mental health problem, but a neurophysiological condition rooted in dysregulation, our mainstream culture is neuro-negative, and we need to understand we can heal ourselves and each other through awareness, understanding, and safe connection.

The Distribution of Predators in Healthcare

Six years ago today, I became a victim of medicalized sexual violence at the hands of a gynecologist who used his position of power to assault me while I was unconscious, removing healthy tissue without my consent. I reported his … Continue reading

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Creating Confident Patients: An IPNB Approach to Healthcare Advocacy

From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, understanding and addressing the reluctance of patients to question healthcare providers involves recognizing the complex interplay between the brain, mind, and relationships. Here are some ways to advocate effectively for patients’ needs: Foster a … Continue reading

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When Professionals Fail with CPTSD

It can feel frustrating and invalidating when professionals fail to recognize Complex PTSD (CPTSD) as a real condition. The truth is, it’s not part of their training to understand it, and that’s a systemic issue. The medical and psychiatric industries … Continue reading

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The Neurobiology of Uncertainty and Fear

Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) offers a lens to understand how our brains and bodies respond to uncertainty and fear, particularly during times of political unrest. Here’s a breakdown of how IPNB principles apply to this context: The Neurobiology of Fear and … Continue reading

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CRPS and the Importance of Feeling Safe: An IPNB Perspective on Pain and Recovery

From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, the sense of safety is deeply intertwined with the functioning of the nervous system, which plays a key role in conditions like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). IPNB emphasizes that our brains and bodies … Continue reading

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Restoring Homeostasis: How IPNB Can Inform CRPS Treatment

From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) reflects how the mind, body, and environment are deeply interconnected. CRPS, particularly in its chronic form, illustrates how trauma—initially physical but often layered with emotional and social stress—can lead … Continue reading

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True Need or Trauma Response? How to Tell the Difference

The distinction between a true need and a trauma-driven need isn’t always clear because both arise from the same nervous system working to keep you safe and supported. From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, it’s helpful to approach this question … Continue reading

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Thin Volumes: Reframing the ICD and DSM

If the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) were reorganized through an interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) lens, an astonishingly large portion of it might fall under trauma or trauma-related disorders, making them thin volumes. This … Continue reading

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The Overlooked Cost of “Pushing Through”

“Pushing through” is not typical behavior for animals. In the natural world, animals prioritize survival through behaviors that conserve energy, protect their bodies, and respond adaptively to stress or injury. Here’s a closer look at why “pushing through” is more … Continue reading

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Successful Negative Reviews of Healthcare Practitioners

The medical and mental illness industries attract abusers because the culture gives them easy access to multiple victims and protects them from accountability. Survivors are so taxed by trying to survive and figure their way out of hell that they … Continue reading

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