Tag Archives: Empathy

Beyond Credentials: The Non-Negotiable Key to My Recovery

I had a years-long period when my functionality was so low that it was hard for me to leave the house. I was severely isolated by disability from repeated medical harm. My relationships with practitioners became my default primary social … Continue reading

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Empathy is Crucial in Medicine, But the Healthcare System Undermines It

Prioritizing efficiency and financial goals over empathetic care has detrimental effects on both patients and healthcare practitioners.  Empathy Improves Patient Outcomes Enhanced Communication: Empathetic healthcare practitioners build better communication with patients, leading to more accurate diagnoses and more effective treatments. … Continue reading

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Cues of Safety: Why Connection is Non-Negotiable in Healthcare

Cues of safety are signals we give each other that tell our nervous systems we are safe with one another. When we feel pro-social and safe enough to be authentic and truly connect, we naturally give off these cues, which … Continue reading

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Survivors in the Lurch: How Doctors Disregard Their Role in Resolving Medical Trauma

Recently, I heard the same line I’ve been hearing for years. A prominent pain specialist told me that doctors don’t have the time to help me recover from medical PTSD. The conversation always drops straight into the same rut: “Are … Continue reading

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When “I’ll Pray for You” is a Symptom of Disconnection

I reached out to my brothers when I was in a protracted and deep struggle. I asked for safe connection, acknowledgment, and support. I needed them to see me and recognize how repeated abuse from the disease management industry had … Continue reading

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The Cost of “Positive Vibes Only”: How Denying Reality Shuts Down the Human System

The Cultural Demand to Stay Positive Harms Us Every day we’re told to “think happy thoughts,” to “focus on the good,” to keep our “vibration high.” It’s the cultural chant of a society terrified of pain and truth, and addicted … Continue reading

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From Tyranny to Corporate Rule: Reclaiming “We, the People”

On this Fourth of July, we’re not only celebrating independence. We’re mourning how much of it we’ve lost. The founders of this country declared their refusal to live under tyranny. They rejected inherited power, royal decrees, and governments that served … Continue reading

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Finding the Right Doctor

Finding a doctor who listens and understands can be highly challenging, especially when you’re already in pain or dealing with complex needs. From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) lens, the quality of our relationships, including with our providers, greatly affects our … Continue reading

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“Well, We All Are Going to Die”: A US Senator’s Cold Response to Legitimate Fear

A sitting U.S. Senator, Joni Ernst of Iowa, recently responded to concerns from her constituents about the life-and-death consequences of proposed Medicaid and food assistance cuts by saying, “Well, we all are going to die.” This was during a town … Continue reading

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The Real Fundamental Weakness of Western Civilization: Disconnection

Contrary to Elon Musk’s assertion about empathy, the fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is its disconnection: from our bodies, from each other, and the natural world. This disconnection fuels individualism over community, extraction over reciprocity, and power over relationship. It … Continue reading

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