Category Archives: Mental Health
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
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged agency, Community, fear, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, politics, Psychology, safety, social, threat, uncertainty, unrest, well-being
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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
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged compassion, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, trauma response
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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
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged Behavioral Health, ICD, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, Nervous System, psychiatry, Psychology, Regulation
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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
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged instincts, Mental Health, pushing through, rest, self-regulation, well-being
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Community as Resistance: Strategies for Surviving—and Thriving—in Uncertain Times
In times of growing fear and division, such as those surrounding political uncertainty, it’s vital to mindfully choose our safety strategies—not only for our own well-being but also for the collective health of those around us. As another Trump administration … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged befriend and tend, chronic stress, Community, connection, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, political, Psychology, Trauma, Trump, uncertainty
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Resilience is Not a Character Trait
Our culture often paints resilience as individual strength or toughness, a matter of will or character. From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) lens, resilience depends on the interplay between our biology, environment, and the relational systems in which we’re embedded. Framing … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged Community, connection, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, Psychology, resilience
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The Pathology of the Mental Illness Industry
The mental illness industry, which informs medicine and the larger culture, pathologizes natural and normal responses to abnormal lived experiences. It focuses on the individual as the source of their own distress, insisting they need to simply stop having those … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, Psychology, well-being
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Against the System: Trauma Recovery Through Neuroscience
My last sleep before SGB #24! Four years ago when I had the first few I couldn’t have imagined needing this many. It has been an excruciatingly difficult journey. The yo-yo trajectory has been brutal. I’m so tired of reclaiming … Continue reading
Posted in SGB for PTSD
Tagged Community, interpersonal neurobiology, Mental Health, Psychology, PTSD, Regulation
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Stop Calling It “People Pleasing!”
From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, what’s labeled as “people pleasing” is actually a deeply ingrained survival response known as “please and appease.” This is an adaptation that develops in environments where maintaining safety and connection feels threatened, especially in … Continue reading
When “Suicidal” Means Something Needs to Change
Thanks in part to working with David Bedrick and his deep/process/UnShaming practice I came to realize that anytime I had even the faintest suicidal ideation (SI) it was a symptom that my environment was missing something important that I needed … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged David Bedrick, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, Psychology, suicidal ideation, suicide, well-being
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