Category Archives: Uncategorized
Medicalized Trauma: ChristianaCare’s Behavioral Health Fail
Seven years ago today, I first met with Alan L. Schwartz PsyD, the “embedded” psychologist at ChristianaCare’s Family Medicine Center at Foulk Road, having been referred to him by an intern at that facility. Schwartz (I refuse to use the … Continue reading
The Mental Illness Industry Barks Up the Wrong Tree
When someone is depressed, their whole system is in a state of distress. Low energy, low motivation, negative thinking, and isolation are all signs that the nervous system struggles to find safety and stability. The shift doesn’t begin with forcing … Continue reading
US Homeland Security: When Trauma Is Codified into National Policy
A Facebook friend recently asked, “Is Kristi Noem even human?” This question, seemingly born from disbelief, prompted a deeper look into the behaviors of the current U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security. What if her actions, often described as impulsive, harsh, … Continue reading
No Labels, No Symptom Checklists: The Shame Busting Science of IPNB
Many people share a deep and growing concern about psychiatry’s limitations. Meanwhile, Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) offers a framework grounded in science and is also deeply humane. Rather than defining mental health through labels and symptom checklists, IPNB recognizes health and … Continue reading
Randy Shrugged: Generational Trauma Emotionally Eviscerated My Husband
When I was married to Randy*, I was in a constant state of confusion and loneliness. I’d ask what he felt, what he needed, what was going on between us. He’d shrug, tilt his head and say, “I don’t know.” … Continue reading
The Neurobiological Case for Justice
Justice is essential for nervous system regulation, and a key missing factor for me. My nervous system isn’t just dealing with severe pain and trauma. It is also dealing with the ongoing assault of being gaslit, dismissed, and denied justice … Continue reading
Why There Are No “Good” Billionaires
The idea that certain billionaires like Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, and Oprah Winfrey can be considered “good” billionaires is tied to their efforts to use their wealth for philanthropy or positive social change. They may appear to contribute positively to … Continue reading
Healing From Helplessness
Healing from perpetual helplessness, especially with Complex PTSD (CPTSD), involves reconnecting with our capacity for agency and self-regulation. Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) emphasizes that healing happens through relationships—both with ourselves and others—because we are inherently relational beings. One way to begin … Continue reading
When the Practitioner Cannot Attune: A Barrier to Healing
When a healthcare practitioner struggles to attune to a patient, the relational dynamic becomes strained. The practitioner may fail to notice or respond to the patient’s emotional, physiological, and relational cues, leading to a sense of disconnection and misattunement. For … Continue reading
The Baboons Among Us: How Western Society Mirrors Aggressive Hierarchies
The Baboons Among Us: How Western Society Mirrors Aggressive HierarchiesIn Robert Sapolsky’s study of the Keekorok baboons, he observed a society characterized by aggressive dominance hierarchies, where high-ranking males exerted stress and aggression on lower-ranking individuals. This environment created significant … Continue reading
