1. Brain & Nervous System Under Deception
| Icon | Region | Effect of Deception | Body/Feeling Cue | Impact on Choices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🧠🔥 | Amygdala | Hyperactive threat detection | Anxiety, jumpiness, racing heart | Overreactive, misreads safety |
| 🧠📚 | Hippocampus | Encodes trauma/deception as current threat | Confusion, flashbacks | Difficulty distinguishing truth from lies |
| 🧠🛡️ | Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC) | Underactive | Foggy, indecisive, self-doubt | Hard to make values-aligned decisions |
| 🌬️💓 | Autonomic Nervous System | Sympathetic dominance | Tension, shallow breathing | Reactive, survival-driven behavior |
2. Healing & Reclamation Pathways
| Action | Brain/Body Effect | Somatic Signal | Decision Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mindfulness & Grounding | Amygdala recalibration | Calm, steady heartbeat | Accurate threat assessment |
| Journaling & Reflection | Hippocampal rewriting | Clarity, reduced confusion | Recognizes patterns, tracks truth |
| Values-Based Decisions | mPFC activation | Light, confident feeling | Choices align with self, not manipulation |
| Vagal/Parasympathetic Exercises | Nervous system regulation | Relaxed breathing, loose muscles | Clear, informed decision-making |
| Boundary Enforcement | Reinforces self-trust | Body feels secure, centered | Protects from repeated deception |
3. Daily Reference Flow
- Pause & Scan Body: Notice tension, gut, and heart signals
- Observe Patterns: Track repeated behaviors in others & yourself
- Check Alignment: Ask, “Does this match my values?”
- Regulate: Breathwork, grounding, somatic exercises
- Act Informed: Decisions come from clarity, not fear
- Reflect & Record: Reinforce learning and self-trust
4. Quick Symbols for Daily Use
- 🔴 Alarm / deception cue
- 🟡 Evaluate / check reality
- 🟢 Safe / values-aligned choice
💡 Usage Tip:
Keep this visual map on your phone, desk, or print it as a daily reference. Use it whenever you feel uncertainty or doubt creeping in. Over time, it trains your nervous system to recognize truth, integrate bodily signals, and make empowered choices—reclaiming your mind from decades of manipulation.
By Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
©Linda C J Turner
