If emotions are contagious, why didn’t my positivity “rub off” on the abuser? Why did their negativity weigh me down more than my joy lifted them up? Why Abusers Don’t Catch Positivity: The Science of Negativity Bias and Emotional Contagion For three decades you lived with a manic, toxic abuser and yet managed to protect… Read More Negativity Has a Head Start in the Brain
What It Is Emotional contagion is the process by which we unconsciously “pick up” and mirror the emotions of people around us. Just like a yawn spreads in a room, so does a laugh, a sigh, or a heavy silence. We’re wired to absorb others’ feelings — it’s part of being human. Psychologists define emotional… Read More Emotional Contagion: How We “Catch” Feelings From Others
One year can change everything. After decades of heaviness, control, and restriction, I now find myself living in a different world — one filled with laughter, lightness, and the kind of play I thought was lost to me forever. Nights stretch long with music turned up loud, dancing and singing under the stars, laughter echoing… Read More One Year On: Reclaiming Life, Playfulness, and Joy
Some families seem to have an endless script of ailments: one week it’s a back problem, the next a digestive issue, then headaches, then fatigue. The list never ends, and nothing ever truly resolves. Doctor visits and prescriptions become the rhythm of life, with conversations revolving around symptoms, scans, and “what might be wrong this… Read More When Life Revolves Around Illness: Escaping the Cycle of Hypochondria
It’s said that misery loves company — but in truth, misery loves misery. People who are deeply unhappy often feel safest when others around them mirror the same mood. Why? 🔹 Psychology explains: When someone hasn’t learned to self-soothe or process emotions, they project their discomfort outward. Seeing others joyful only reminds them of what they lack — so they… Read More Misery Loves Misery: The Psychology of Why Some People Can’t Stand Joy
Some people seem wired to dim the light. They may not be intentionally cruel, but they are emotionally unavailable to celebrate others. Instead, they live in misery, pull people down, and spoil every special occasion. Psychologists call this spoiling behavior—an unconscious attempt to regulate their own discomfort by dampening other people’s happiness. 🔹 Psychology behind it: Killjoys… Read More Escaping the Killjoys: Why Some People Spoil Joy
Some people seem to have an uncanny knack for draining the light from a room. They roll their eyes at others’ happiness, criticize celebrations, and find ways to dampen moments that should be filled with laughter and connection. These “killjoys” don’t always realize the harm they cause, but their impact is real: they create toxic… Read More Escaping the Killjoy: Psychology and Neuroscience of Those Who Spoil Joy
Today marks the birthday of my beautiful daughter—beautiful inside and out. Birthdays have a way of pulling us back through time, reminding us of the exact day when a new life entered the world. I can still remember the day she was born, that first moment of holding her, and the flood of pride and… Read More A Daughter’s Birthday: The Gift of Love, Resilience, and Bonding
When a woman is single, divorced, attractive, and successful, she can sometimes become a lightning rod for jealousy and suspicion. Instead of being celebrated for her resilience or admired for her strength, she may be judged, ostracized, or treated as a “threat.” This is both a psychological and a neuroscientific phenomenon — tied to insecurity, competition, and… Read More When Jealousy Rears Its Ugly Head:
Why It Hurts So Deeply Psychological Dynamics at Play Neuroscience of the Experience How to Cope When You’re Left Out 1. Name What’s Happening Instead of internalizing blame (“It must be me”), remind yourself: “This is ostracism. My brain is wired to hurt. This pain is real, but it doesn’t define my worth.” 2. Regulate the… Read More When You’re the One Being Left Out: The Psychology and Neuroscience of Ostracism
Linda C J Turner | Trauma Therapist & Emotional Healing Specialist 