The Overwhelmed Brain

Emotional Intelligence for Critical Thinkers

The abuse victim’s perspective – Step-parents and step-children – When honoring yourself leads to loneliness

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The abuse victim’s perspective – Step-parents and step-children – When honoring yourself leads to loneliness
The abuse victim’s perspective – Step-parents and step-children – When honoring yourself leads to loneliness
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The abuse victim’s perspective – Step-parents and step-children – When honoring yourself leads to loneliness
November 5, 2017

Why don’t abuse victims leave the relationship? The world can look at someone who is clearly being abused by their partner and say things like, “Why don’t you just leave?” But the abuse victim’s reality is a lot different from those who’ve not experienced what it’s like to have an abused mind.

Their perceptions and beliefs about the world are entirely different than ours so leaving isn’t the easy path others make it out to be. Segment 1 is all about the perspective of the abuse victim and why it’s not as easy to leave the abuser as it may appear to others.

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Rekindling with toxic family – The long-term results of honoring yourself – Even the victim plays a role – Contact or no contact your ex

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Rekindling with toxic family – The long-term results of honoring yourself – Even the victim plays a role – Contact or no contact your ex
Rekindling with toxic family – The long-term results of honoring yourself – Even the victim plays a role – Contact or no contact your ex
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Rekindling with toxic family – The long-term results of honoring yourself – Even the victim plays a role – Contact or no contact your ex
June 18, 2017

How do you go about rekindling with toxic and/or dysfunctional family members? Is it worth “going home” and starting up those old, dysfunctional, family get-togethers again?

Is it possible to avoid the toxicity of a dysfunctional family past? There is a way to return to a toxic family environment but it’s going to take some courage to be the person you want to be with the people that have always known you the way you were. I talk about that and more in segment one.

In segment two, I read a message from someone who shares what it’s like honoring yourself. Joshua says that he’s been taking steps to stand up for himself and express his truths to people that he never has before. He is showing up as that authentic person he’s always wanted to be and things are happening for him in a way that never has.

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Changing Bad Habits – Inspiring Letter from Someone with an Eating Disorder – Jared Fogle and Antisocial Personality Disorder (the Sociopath)

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Changing Bad Habits, an Inspiring Letter from Someone with an Eating Disorder , and Jared Fogle and Antisocial Personality Disorder – or the Sociopath
Changing Bad Habits, an Inspiring Letter from Someone with an Eating Disorder , and Jared Fogle and Antisocial Personality Disorder – or the Sociopath
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Changing Bad Habits, an Inspiring Letter from Someone with an Eating Disorder , and Jared Fogle and Antisocial Personality Disorder – or the Sociopath
November 15, 2015

Segment one: Bad habits can be hard to change or moderate, but there are small steps you can take to make it easier to change a bad habit into a good one, or at least, a little less “bad”.

Segment two: I received an email with a heartwarming story of inspiration where someone finally realized she had a choice – and she made that choice! It was empowering and needs to be heard by anyone who feels there’s no hope for them.

Segment three: I talk about Jared Fogle, the former Subway spokesperson who is now being charged with possession of child pornography and sex with minors. Once a hero to many, he is now a symbol of shame.

Kids Humiliating Kids – My Boss is Irrational – Enablers Give Their Dependents a Free Ride – The Meaning of Spirituality

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Kids Humiliating Kids – My Boss is Irrational – Enablers Give Their Dependents a Free Ride – The Meaning of Spirituality
Kids Humiliating Kids – My Boss is Irrational – Enablers Give Their Dependents a Free Ride – The Meaning of Spirituality
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Kids Humiliating Kids – My Boss is Irrational – Enablers Give Their Dependents a Free Ride – The Meaning of Spirituality
March 20, 2016

In this multi-faceted episode, I’ll talk about how bullies love when you react negatively and what to do to squash the energy behind their bullying.

This is from a letter from a kid who got bullied in school and was humiliated to the point where he didn’t want to go back. Adopting a “who cares?” attitude can be very helpful in situations like this.

In the second segment, I talk about someone with an irrational boss. What do you do when your boss is completely crazy? The lizard brain kicks in, and you can react like a human, or perhaps what really needs to happen is for you to react like another lizard!

I also talk about spirituality in this episode, something I rarely talk about on this show. When the trauma is too much, and you can’t get beyond it, maybe spirituality is a factor in healing. After all, when even the worst events in life have a positive meaning of some sort, it can surely help get beyond the pain and other negative feelings.

Finally, I discuss enabling and empowerment. This episode is packed. 

The Everyday Bully and Bullying Behavior

The Everyday Bully and Bully Behavior
The Everyday Bully and Bully Behavior
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The Everyday Bully and Bully Behavior
May 17, 2015

Bullies come in all shapes and sizes and have all kinds of mannerisms that different people give different names for.

In my opinion, anytime someone wants you to feel bad or forces you to do something against your will, it is bullying.

I recently realized that I was a bully in my marriage. This led to some interesting insights I share in this episode. That, along with learning about how the typical bully ticks (and some things you can do to avoid being a victim of bullying) is what I talk about today.

(modified transcript of this episode follows)

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