Tag: #health

Impulse Control and Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction

Understanding the mind of a sexual abuser from a neuroscience and psychological perspective is complex, because it involves biological, developmental, and social factors. While every individual is different, research does provide some insight into patterns of thought, brain functioning, and emotional regulation that are often observed in perpetrators. 1. Impulse Control and Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction The prefrontal cortex is… Read More Impulse Control and Prefrontal Cortex Dysfunction

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Co-Regulation: The Science of Shared Emotional Stability

1. What It Is:Co-regulation is the process by which one person helps another manage their emotional state, usually by remaining calm, attentive, and responsive. This is especially important in moments of stress, fear, or dysregulation. While self-regulation is the ability to manage your own emotions internally, co-regulation relies on an external “anchor”—someone attuned to your… Read More Co-Regulation: The Science of Shared Emotional Stability

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When You Meet Someone Who Truly Understands You: A Neuroscience Perspective 💛

There’s a rare kind of connection that goes beyond words—the kind where someone notices the small things, protects your boundaries, and can calm you just by being present. Neuroscience tells us this isn’t just poetic—it’s deeply biological. Your Nervous System Recognizes SafetyHumans are wired for connection. The polyvagal theory, proposed by Dr. Stephen Porges, explains that our… Read More When You Meet Someone Who Truly Understands You: A Neuroscience Perspective 💛

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Executive Functioning

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

Self-deception and habitual lying are closely linked to several specific cognitive functions in the brain. Neuroscience research shows that lying, rationalizing, and deceiving yourself are not random; they rely on distinct neural circuits and cognitive processes. Here’s a detailed breakdown: 1. Executive Functioning The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is central here. It governs planning, decision-making, impulse control, and self-monitoring—all components… Read More Executive Functioning

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🌌 Facing Loss and Impermanence: Psychology, Neuroscience, and Meaning

1. Existential Psychology Thinkers like Viktor Frankl and Irvin Yalom placed mortality at the center of psychological growth. Frankl (holocaust survivor, Man’s Search for Meaning) believed that suffering becomes bearable when we can find meaning in it. His logotherapy emphasized asking not “Why me?” but “What now?” — what responsibility, purpose, or act of love can emerge from loss. Yalom described “existential givens”:… Read More 🌌 Facing Loss and Impermanence: Psychology, Neuroscience, and Meaning

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🧠 The Brain on Long-Term Lying

1. Truth and Lies Start to Blur At first, the brain knows it’s lying: the prefrontal cortex (self-control, logic) has to inhibit the truth while fabricating something else. The amygdala sparks stress and guilt. But with repetition, two things happen: The amygdala becomes desensitized → lying no longer “feels bad.” False memories begin to form → the hippocampus (memory center) literally stores… Read More 🧠 The Brain on Long-Term Lying

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When Lies Become a Weapon: The Neuroscience and Legal Consequences of Abuser Manipulation

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

Introduction Abuse rarely stops at bruises or insults. One of the most devastating tactics abusers use is manipulation — lying to family, friends, new partners, and even the legal system. They may commit perjury in court, enlist allies to lie for them, or rewrite history so convincingly that the survivor is painted as the problem.… Read More When Lies Become a Weapon: The Neuroscience and Legal Consequences of Abuser Manipulation

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✨ After almost a year on my own, I can finally say this: I am ready. ✨

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

Ready for something real. Ready for something honest. Ready for a love that feels safe, steady, and true. For decades, abuse shaped my nervous system. Trauma trains the brain to live on high alert — always scanning for danger, bracing for the next blow, never fully resting. Neuroscience shows us that chronic stress floods the… Read More ✨ After almost a year on my own, I can finally say this: I am ready. ✨

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Deceit: How Lying Harms You and Everyone Around You

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

1. The Brain Under Deceit Constant mental load: Lying activates multiple brain regions — the prefrontal cortex (planning, reasoning), anterior cingulate cortex (conflict monitoring), and amygdala (emotional processing). Maintaining a lie keeps these areas overactive, creating chronic cognitive strain. Stress response: The body treats deceit like a threat. Cortisol levels rise, triggering chronic stress responses that can… Read More Deceit: How Lying Harms You and Everyone Around You

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