Tag Archives: well-being
PTSD and Money Struggles
When our nervous system is dysregulated, it negatively affects how we think, feel, and act. A dysregulated nervous system makes it harder to focus, make plans, take risks, or stay consistent with long-term goals, which are important when it comes … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged Behavioral Health, financial stress, Mental Health, money, poverty, PTSD, Regulation, Stress, well-being
1 Comment
The Neurobiological Truth About Burnout
Burnout isn’t simply “emotional,” because it involves the entire nervous system and body. When we’re under prolonged stress, the systems that regulate our energy, focus, and resilience can become overwhelmed. This creates a cascade of effects. Our bodies may stay … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged burnout, Mental Health, Psychology, Regulation, well-being
Leave a comment
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
Leave a comment
“Be Nice or Go Away” as a Healing Mantra
To come off survival mode, our nervous systems have to believe we are safe now. Too much evidence tells me I’m still not safe, including recent bad therapy and a prior malevolent doctor. Cruelty and contempt at the hands of … Continue reading
The Shredding of My Safety Nets
Thanks to the effects of compound trauma on the brain, my resources for many things I used to enjoy have been quite limited for years. Most of my resources for social encounters are used for visits with my doctors. There’s … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health, PTSD
Tagged allostatic load, connection, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, isolation, Mental Health, PTSD, Trauma, well-being
Leave a comment
It’s Not “Psychological Trauma,” it’s Trauma
The term “psychological trauma” is often used, but it overlooks the neurophysiological reality of what happens during trauma. It is more accurately described as nervous system dysregulation, in which trauma overwhelms the nervous system, throwing it out of balance and … Continue reading
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
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged agency, Community, fear, interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, politics, Psychology, safety, social, threat, uncertainty, unrest, well-being
Leave a comment
The Overlooked Cost of “Pushing Through”
“Pushing through” is not typical behavior for animals. In the natural world, animals prioritize survival through behaviors that conserve energy, protect their bodies, and respond adaptively to stress or injury. Here’s a closer look at why “pushing through” is more … Continue reading
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged instincts, Mental Health, pushing through, rest, self-regulation, well-being
Leave a comment
“Sweet Discomfort,” the Growing Edge
Back in the early 80’s I had the pleasure of spending some time with Lilias Folan, “The Yoga Teacher Who Brought Yoga to Our Living Rooms Decades Before Online Yoga Was a Thing.” During the weekend retreat she taught through … 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
Posted in Mental Health
Tagged interpersonal neurobiology, IPNB, Mental Health, Psychology, well-being
2 Comments