Tag Archives: interpersonal neurobiology
Un-Shaming “Co-Dependency,” an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) View
From an interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, what is often labeled as “co-dependency” can be reinterpreted as a survival adaptation. In the context of IPNB, our brains evolved for connection and relationships are crucial for our emotional and physical well-being. When … Continue reading
Intermittent Fasting (IF) and Mitigating Neurobiological Impacts of Obesity
Intermittent fasting (IF) offers potential benefits for mitigating some of the neurobiological impacts of obesity, enhancing brain health, and supporting cognitive function: Improved Insulin Sensitivity: Obesity often leads to insulin resistance, which can impair brain function and increase the risk … Continue reading
The Illusion of Autonomy: How Power Dynamics Shape Freedom
While agency and autonomy are often celebrated in Western culture, it’s important to look at who benefits from these ideals and how they are distributed. Upon closer examination, there are significant disparities in whose agency and autonomy are truly respected, … Continue reading
Desperate for Connection, Paralyzed by Fear: Trauma’s Cruel Dilemma
One of the cruelest effects of complex trauma is how our nervous systems become equally desperate for connection and terrified of it. Any interaction can feel potentially dangerous. We focus on detecting threats and protecting ourselves, but we can’t protect … Continue reading
A Network of Complicity: The Neurobiology of Bystander Guilt in the P Diddy Allegations
In the recent allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs, several people surrounding him, including staff members, have been implicated as enablers or bystanders. These individuals allegedly helped facilitate or cover up the abuse, particularly during events referred to as “freak-offs.” Combs’ … Continue reading
Restoring Balance: The Role of Interpersonal Neurobiology in Native American Healing
From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, the biggest challenges faced by Native American populations are deeply intertwined with historical trauma, systemic injustice, and disrupted relational connections across generations. IPNB, which emphasizes the importance of relationships, social environments, and neurobiology in … Continue reading
Feel It for 90 Seconds: The Surprising Lifespan of Emotions
Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroanatomist, explains that the biochemical lifespan of an emotion is roughly 90 seconds. According to her, when we experience an emotion, the physiological response—triggered by a stimulus—lasts about 90 seconds in the body before it … Continue reading
SGB for PTSD: The Breakthrough Work of Dr. Eugene Lipov
Back in late 2020, when I was near death for most of a year, I had struggled for many months to find access to Stellate Ganglion Blocks (SGB) as a treatment for Complex PTSD. I had read about this minimally … Continue reading
From Pathology to Relationship: IPNB Insights into the Medicalization of Social Issues
The medicalization of social issues like addiction and mental health, backed by industrial interests, shifts focus from systemic inequality to biological explanations, depoliticizing the true causes of widespread despair, as it causes further harm and even kills. In the Jacobin … Continue reading
The Power of Connection: Patch Adams MD and the Interpersonal Neurobiology of Healing
In the fall of 2020, when I was very near death due to hypercritical allostatic load (overloaded nervous system), I reached out to someone whose compassion I deeply admired. I had watched one of Patch Adams MD’s videos on YouTube—it … Continue reading