Tag Archives: shame
Control Sold as Awakening: An Interpersonal Neurobiology Look at Byron Katie’s “The Work”
Byron Katie’s teachings are built around four questions that invite people to challenge their thoughts, with “Is it true?” being the most famous. On the surface, these questions can sound compassionate and insightful. And sometimes, they can be helpful. A … Continue reading
Posted in Accountability
Tagged "The Work", Byron Katie, connection, disembodiment, dissociation, functional freeze, IPNB, safety, shame
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Clinical Harm: An IPNB Perspective on the Therapist’s Agenda
When a therapist repeatedly interrupts, dismisses a client’s distressing experiences, or imposes their own agenda, it can have significant negative effects on the client’s nervous system, often triggering a state of dysregulation. Here’s what happens from an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged agenda, dysregulation, Efforting, fight, flight, freeze, relationships, shame, therapist, therapy, Trauma, trust
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Stripped of Dignity: My Short Time on Food Stamps
I was on food stamps for a short while in my 25th year. A broken right hand made it impossible to do my job. I lost my income, and nobody would hire someone with a broken right hand. I couldn’t … Continue reading
When Help Harms: How Welfare Humiliates the People It Supposedly Serves
I’ve had severe Complex PTSD nearly my whole life. In my young adult years, that meant a lot of financial instability. I tried my damndest to land and keep jobs, build a positive social environment, pursue education, keep my health … Continue reading
Posted in Abuse
Tagged abuse, abusive systems, humiliation, IPNB, shame, support, welfare
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Pathologizing to Control: How the Mental Illness Industry Silences Healthy Resistance
In a society built on distorted hierarchies and unnatural demands, it is normal to feel anxious, depressed, enraged, or dissociated. These are not signs of personal malfunction; they are signs of a system out of balance. But instead of listening … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged culture, Mental Health, mental illness industry, pathologizing, resistance, shame, shame-based
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Shame v. Guilt
Shame and guilt are often confused, but they affect us in very different ways. Guilt comes from recognizing a specific action as wrong and feeling a responsibility to make amends. It’s about behavior, what we did. Guilt can motivate positive … Continue reading
Stop Calling It “People Pleasing!”
From an Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) perspective, what’s labeled as “people pleasing” is actually a deeply ingrained survival response known as “please and appease.” This is an adaptation that develops in environments where maintaining safety and connection feels threatened, especially in … Continue reading
Misogyny and Violence: the Neurobiological Connection
The connection between misogyny and violence can be deeply understood through the lens of Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB), which explores how our brain, body, and relationships are intricately connected. From this perspective, misogyny and violence are not just social phenomena but … Continue reading
Posted in IPNB of Hierarchy
Tagged Community, connection, Empathy, Incels, men, Mental Health, misogyny, Psychology, Regulation, rejection, shame, violence, women
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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
Posted in Abuse
Tagged abuse, agency, arrest, bystander complicity, bystanders, cognitive dissonance, complicity, different action, drugs, fear, freak off, guilty, immobilization, influence, integration, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, p Diddy, power, rapper, relational trauma, Sex Abuse, shame, systems
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The Empowerment Revolution: How IPNB Challenges Shame and Fosters Healing
Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB) is empowering and shame-busting. Here’s how it fosters empowerment and challenges shame: Empowering Aspects of IPNB Understanding the Brain and Mind: Knowledge is Power: IPNB provides a clear understanding of how trauma impacts the brain and nervous … Continue reading