“It’s All About Me”: The Neuroscience of Self-Centered Suffering

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment

Ever met someone who’s always hurt, always a victim, always “me, me, me”? It’s not just bad manners—it’s neuroscience and psychology at work. Why It Happens Brain on high alert: The amygdala, your emotional alarm system, can overreact, turning minor slights into major crises. Too much self-focus: The brain’s default mode network (DMN) fuels rumination, making personal suffering… Read More “It’s All About Me”: The Neuroscience of Self-Centered Suffering

Linda C J Turner2 Comments

When It’s All About Me: Neuroscience and Psychology of Victim Mentality

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment

In our interactions, we sometimes encounter individuals who seem trapped in a cycle of self-centered suffering: “I am hurt, I am a victim, the world is against me.” While it’s easy to dismiss such behavior as immaturity or selfishness, neuroscience and psychology reveal deeper mechanisms driving this pattern. 1. The Psychology of Victimhood Psychologists describe chronic self-victimization… Read More When It’s All About Me: Neuroscience and Psychology of Victim Mentality

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

Emotional Immaturity and the Brain

Emotional immaturity isn’t just a personality quirk — it’s reflected in neural circuitry: Prefrontal Cortex (PFC): Responsible for emotional regulation, impulse control, and long-term planning. In emotionally immature individuals, the PFC may be underdeveloped or underactive in high-stress situations, making them more reactive and less able to manage complex emotions. Amygdala: This is the brain’s threat… Read More Emotional Immaturity and the Brain

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

When People Won’t Communicate and Play Games

The Neuroscience and Psychology Behind Emotional Avoidance Few things are more confusing or draining than dealing with someone who refuses to communicate directly — who plays mind games, gives mixed signals, or shuts down instead of being honest. It’s not just frustrating; it’s emotionally destabilizing. Neuroscience shows why these patterns affect us so deeply and… Read More When People Won’t Communicate and Play Games

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

Love Is Like a Delicate Plant: The Psychology of Nurturing Connection

In the language of psychology, love is often seen not as a fixed emotion but as a living, evolving process — something that requires care, attention, and balance. Much like a delicate plant, love grows when it’s nurtured and fades when neglected. The Seed: Beginnings of Connection Every relationship begins with a seed — attraction,… Read More Love Is Like a Delicate Plant: The Psychology of Nurturing Connection

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

Silence can be deadly

When someone stops reacting, it’s often not peace; it’s detachment. In relationships, emotional responses like anger, frustration, or even tears still show investment — the person cares enough to feel. But once they reach a point of silence, it can signal emotional exhaustion or withdrawal, where the brain protects itself by shutting down attachment responses. From a neuroscience and psychology perspective: The amygdala (emotion… Read More Silence can be deadly

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

Getting Out and About: When Life Gets Interesting and More in Tune with What You Love

Neuroscience and Psychology of Reconnection There comes a moment — often after a long stretch of isolation, loss, or emotional fatigue — when something inside us stirs. It’s not a loud signal, but a quiet invitation from the brain and heart to reengage with life. To get out, explore, and rediscover what makes you feel… Read More Getting Out and About: When Life Gets Interesting and More in Tune with What You Love

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

🌿 Reconnecting with Reiki — Returning to My Roots in Healing

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment ©Linda C J Turner

There are moments in life when we find ourselves drawn back to the practices that first helped us heal. For me, that practice is Reiki. Decades ago, while living in France, I had the privilege of training with a remarkable Reiki Master whose lineage was very close to the original source of this profound Japanese healing… Read More 🌿 Reconnecting with Reiki — Returning to My Roots in Healing

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment

Infection

By Linda C J Turner, Therapist & Advocate — Linda C J Turner Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment

Why someone’s anxiety or irritability can “infect” a room without a word being spoken. 3. Reading Behavior vs. Overthinking Body Language: Posture, gestures, microexpressions — often more reliable than words. For example, a fake smile involves the mouth but not the eyes. Tone of Voice & Timing: Hesitation, pitch, or rhythm changes reveal emotional states. Consistency: People reveal… Read More Infection

Linda C J TurnerLeave a comment