Tag Archives: Empathy
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
Posted in Accountability, Healthcare
Tagged attunement, Doctor, doctor-patient relationship, doctors, Empathy, IPNB, Medical PTSD, MPTSD, pain, pain specialist, relationship, therapy
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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
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
Posted in Neurobiology
Tagged adaptation, awe, congruence, culture, Empathy, numbness, positive vibes only, survival adaptations
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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
Posted in Politics
Tagged 4th of July, America, Community, connection, Empathy, Independence Day, kings, safety, tyranny
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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
Posted in Politics
Tagged Empathy, Federal Government, Leadership', Medicaid, policy
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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
Posted in Politics
Tagged Elon, Elon Musk, Empathy, Musk, weakness, Western civilization
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The Many Weaknesses of Elon Musk and the System That Fosters Him
Celebrity billionaire Elon Musk has been portrayed as a visionary, a genius, who reshapes industries and pushes the boundaries of innovation. However, when we step back and examine the deeper layers of his success, we begin to see that much … Continue reading
Posted in IPNB of Hierarchy
Tagged Billionaire, connection, culture, Domination, Elon Musk, Empathy, hierarchy, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Musk, power, safety, society, success, thriving, well-being
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From the Family to Empires: How Hierarchies Harm Us All
From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, all hierarchies that operate through domination dynamics are fundamentally the same. They impose the same relational structure: an imbalance of power where one party exerts control over others, often at the expense of connection, … Continue reading
Posted in IPNB of Hierarchy
Tagged agency, Empathy, harm, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, Psychology, survival, well-being
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Elon Musk and the Normalization of Aggressive Masculinity: A Neurobiological Perspective
Ultra-rich men like Elon Musk can significantly affect the general population, especially in shaping societal attitudes toward issues like identity, success, masculinity, and behavior. From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, the behaviors and attitudes exhibited by influential figures like Musk … Continue reading