Tag: #wellness

Practical steps that calm the brain’s alarm system

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

Science-based strategies that protect your body and mind when you’ve been through chronic harassment or trauma.(If someone is currently violating a restraining order, though, please keep involving law enforcement or a legal advocate—safety planning is the top priority.) 🧠 1. Re-establish real safety first Your nervous system can’t down-regulate while it still senses danger. Practical steps… Read More Practical steps that calm the brain’s alarm system

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Reclaiming Peace: The Neuroscience of Living Life on Your Own Terms

Living life in constant vigilance—watching what you say, monitoring your every move, justifying your choices, and tiptoeing around the emotional volatility of others—takes an enormous toll on your brain and body. For many who have experienced prolonged stress or relational harassment, freedom isn’t just a luxury; it’s a fundamental act of healing. The Brain Under… Read More Reclaiming Peace: The Neuroscience of Living Life on Your Own Terms

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Why They Stay Close: The Psychology of Obsessive Proximity After a Breakup

Even after the relationship ends — after the messages, the threats, even a restraining order — some people still won’t go away.They linger nearby, rent close to your home, “coincidentally” appear in places they know you go, or find indirect ways to stay connected. It feels irrational. It is.But beneath the chaos, psychology and neuroscience reveal a… Read More Why They Stay Close: The Psychology of Obsessive Proximity After a Breakup

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🧠 1. What happens in the brain (neuroscience perspective)

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

Antipsychotic medication (used for conditions like schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or severe bipolar disorder) works by regulating dopamine and sometimes serotonin activity in key brain circuits — especially those involving: The prefrontal cortex (thinking, planning, judgment) The limbic system (emotion and fear regulation) The striatum (motivation and reward) When you’ve been on these medications for years, your brain adapts to their presence: Receptors adjust (for example,… Read More 🧠 1. What happens in the brain (neuroscience perspective)

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When Intimidation Stops Working: The Neuroscience of Calm Power

When fear, threats, and insults stop working — when the person who once scared you realizes you’re no longer shaken — something powerful has shifted.Not in them, but in you. They will throw everything they can: intimidation, legal threats, emotional manipulation, guilt trips, character attacks. But when your nervous system no longer reacts the way it used… Read More When Intimidation Stops Working: The Neuroscience of Calm Power

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🧠 Neuroscience of Genuine Friendship

When we spend time with people who make us feel accepted and relaxed, the brain releases oxytocin — the bonding hormone. It quiets the amygdala (fear center) and strengthens feelings of trust, warmth, and belonging. Genuine friendships literally soothe your nervous system. Shared hobbies and laughter trigger dopamine — the brain’s reward chemical. When this happens naturally, without manipulation or… Read More 🧠 Neuroscience of Genuine Friendship

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Silence

🧠 Neuroscience and Psychology Behind It When you say, “If you need to disappear to feel powerful, I’ll take that as my cue to walk toward peace,”you’re describing emotional differentiation — a state where your nervous system no longer confuses someone else’s withdrawal with your own worth. The disappearing act activates your brain’s threat circuits (the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex).… Read More Silence

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The Body Reflects the Nervous System

When someone shifts from hunched and shuffling to upright and puffed-chest, it’s not just posture changing — it’s a neurobiological and psychological state shift. Let’s unpack this step by step 👇 🧠 1. The Body Reflects the Nervous System A hunched, shuffling posture signals parasympathetic dominance, especially the dorsal vagal state — associated with withdrawal, defeat, or shutdown.It’s the body saying: “I don’t feel… Read More The Body Reflects the Nervous System

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🧠 The Neuroscience of Defensive Dominance: How Fear Becomes Power Displays

1. The Trigger: Perceived Threat It all starts in the amygdala, the brain’s emotional alarm center.When you (or an animal) feel threatened — physically, socially, or emotionally — the amygdala fires, signaling danger. This can be: A physical threat (a rival animal or person) A social threat (embarrassment, rejection, loss of status) A psychological threat (feeling exposed or… Read More 🧠 The Neuroscience of Defensive Dominance: How Fear Becomes Power Displays

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🧠 1. Lies Are Cognitively Expensive

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

This is one of my favorite topics because it shows just how deeply our brains are wired for truth. Here’s a breakdown of the neuroscience behind why truth-telling feels lighter and more resilient than defending a lie: 🧠 1. Lies Are Cognitively Expensive Fabricating a story requires your prefrontal cortex to create and maintain a consistent false narrative. You… Read More 🧠 1. Lies Are Cognitively Expensive

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