Tag Archives: Psychology
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
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
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
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
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
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
Denial of Care, Denial of Humanity: Violence, Healthcare Injustice, and a Society on Edge
The murder of the CEO of United Healthcare reflects the deep consequences of cultural dysregulation and domination hierarchies. From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, acts of violence are not isolated phenomena but rather symptoms of a society that fosters widespread … 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
Holiday Eating Stress: Beyond Disorders to Nervous System Support
The National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) sent an email titled, “Holidays & Eating Disorders,” which employs pathologizing language, focusing heavily on symptoms of “eating disorders” without addressing the relational, neurobiological, and environmental contexts that influence these experiences. While NAMI … Continue reading
Beyond Lifestyle Changes: Why Healing Takes More Than Better Habits
In today’s healthcare system, we often encounter the idea that some of our biggest health issues can be resolved through lifestyle changes. While this is technically correct, from an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, such change is also complex. When people … Continue reading
