PSYCHOLOGY BYTES, WITH THERESA.

The VAGUS NERVE is one of the longest nerves in the body. It controls a HUGE amount of processes in your body - including some vital organs - and is directly responsible for the «gut-brain axis» and regulation of the AMYGDALA (the «fight-or-flight» response). Let’s take a closer look at this fascinating nerve; what it helps to control; signs to look for which might indicate that it’s not working properly; and some easy tips and techniques you can try yourself to increase your vagal tone.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THENEUROCLINIC.COM

Are you one of those people who always says «yes» when someone asks you to do something - however, you actually don’t want to do it but are afraid to say «no»? Well, maybe this episode will help. Good luck!

It will be no surprise to you to hear that the way you were brought up will almost inevitably dictate how you are as an adult - including how you behave in relationships. In this episode I describe the 4 main attachment styles; how they develop; give a signs & symptoms checklist for each type so you can work out which one you are; and how your attachment style might manifest in your relationships.

What is the «ANGER RESPONSE»? How is our brain affected in the moment when we are angry; and how does that differ from being in a chronic state of anger? What can you do to try to control your anger? And when is it healthy and unhealthy to hold onto anger?

Many of you have been asking me if ACUTE STRESS (the so-called «FIGHT OR FLIGHT" RESPONSE) is the same as CHRONIC STRESS. The short answer is «NO»! In this episode I describe exactly what happens in your brain when you are in a life-threatening situation; and how that differs from chronic stress.
PS: PHOTO COURTESY OF NEUROLAUNCH.COM.

NIGHT TERRORS can affect as many as 1 in 5 children; and 1 in 50 adults. They can seem very frightening - but are in and of themselves not intrinsically dangerous. In this episode, I describe what night terrors are; what might cause them; what treatment options are available; and give you some practical advice as to what you can do if you or your child are experiencing night terrors.

Quite a few of you have been contacting me asking if acute stress (the so-called "FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE") is the same as CHRONIC STRESS. The definitive answer is NO, IT IS NOT!! These 2 situations involve different processes in the brain; they produce 2 different hormones (ADRENALINE vs CORTISOL); and they affect the body in VERY different ways. Hopefully this episode will clarify things for you and dispel the (ridiculous) myth that the fight or flight response is the same as chronic stress.
PS: PHOTO COURTESY OF NEUROLAUNCH.COM!

TRIGGER WARNING!! This episode deals with suicidal thoughts, suicidal ideation, and suicidal attempts. What leads a person to contemplate suicide, to attempt suicide, or indeed to commit suicide? I try to answer these questions and more in this episode. NB! IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW ARE HAVING SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, PLEASE TALK TO SOMEONE! There are many resources you can access, wherever in the world you happen to be.

Social Anxiety Disorder can be very disabling for the patient and may lead to them isolating themselves and completely avoiding all social interaction. How does Social Anxiety Disorder develop? What are the signs and symptoms? And most importantly: what are the treatment options available - and what can the patient do to help themselves?

I just wanted to record a personal "thank you" to all of you for supporting my channels - all 4 of them🙏 I know there is a plethora of podcasts out there for you to choose from, so thank you all SO MUCH for choosing to listen to mine - it is very much appreciated🙏 If you have any suggestions or requests for any specific topics you'd like me to cover, please don't hesitate to ask - this is your channel as much as it is mine!

We know that people act/react differently to pain. But why is it that some people can tackle high levels of pain, while others can't? What determines our ability to deal with pain - and what can we do ourselves to take control over our pain?

So many of us in this modern, crazy world have a tendency to judge entire nations or religions simply based on what individuals or leaders of those nations or religions have done (or are doing). This, by its very nature, is PREJUDICE: the tendency to judge people based on pre-conceived notions and/or beliefs. Are you prejudiced? Or do you maybe have a subconscious bias?

A panic attack can be incredibly debilitating - it can even mimic a heart attack - and can lead people to completely avoid certain places or situations in order to avoid triggering a panic attack. Here is a description of panic disorder; the symptoms you might experience; treatment options - and, not least, what you can do yourself to regain control if you suffer from panic attacks.

TRIGGER WARNING! In this episode, I share both my clinical experience of C-PTSD, but perhaps more importantly, my PERSONAL experience of C-PTSD. We survivors with C-PTSD really are a different breed. Hopefully this episode gives both clinicians and survivors a bit more insight into this difficult - but fascinating - diagnosis.

PLEASE NOTE! THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SOME EXPLICIT LANGUAGE AND INTIMATE TOPICS! - LISTENER DISCRETION IS ADVISED! I have had so many couples in my office throughout the years who have been on the verge of separation/divorce because they are no longer having sex. Why is it that one (or both) partner(s) no longer want to have sex? And how do you broach the subject without laying the blame on your partner? I discuss this - and more - in this episode.

PTSD (TRIGGER WARNING!) is a very complex disorder, which affects a patient on many levels and in a multitude of ways. In this episode I explain what PTSD is; who is more likely to get PTSD; I discuss diagnostic criteria; symptoms; treatment options; and coping strategies. I draw on my experience as a clinician, but also as someone who has learned to live with a PTSD diagnosis myself. PLEASE NOTE that listening to this episode may trigger a reaction in you if you have PTSD - so please have someone sit with you while you listen!

We've all been there, right? There's something we need to say, to get off our chests, to confront someone - but we don't know how to start. Here are some tried and true methods, techniques and tips which hopefully will help you have that difficult conversation. Good luck!

When people talk about "re-wiring" your brain, what they actually are talking about is NEUROPLASTICITY: the brain's ability to create new neural pathways and re-structure existing neural pathways. In this episode I explain how neural pathways work; how synaptic reflexes work; how semantic memory and habituation influence our brains and neural pathways; and, not least, how we can maintain our brain's function AND increase our neuroplasticity.

CLERICAL ABUSE (TRIGGER WARNING!) is devastating on many different levels - as are the other forms of abuse I have discussed in previous episodes. However, clerical abuse can affect the victim/survivor on a whole different, spiritual level - and even result in a total loss of faith. The breach of trust which is caused by clerical abuse is quite frankly monumental. In this episode I describe clerical abuse - physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual - from a very personal perspective, as a survivor. I share details of how clerical abuse affected me on a personal level; but also how...

PHOBIAS are more common than you might think! A phobia is an extreme fear of something or of a situation, which can be very disabling for the person involved. The good news is, phobias are really easy to treat and most patients will either be able to live quite well with their phobia, or be rid of the phobia altigether, after just a few sessions. In this episode I give some concrete examples of how phobias can be treated using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Progressive Desensitisation, Visualisation and Breathwork.

We are continuing our series on child abuse and this episode will be about SEXUAL ABUSE (TRIGGER WARNING!) I describe the different forms of sexual abuse; how it can affect the child; signs, symptoms and red flags to look out for if you suspect a child is being abused; and how the abuse can affect the survivor into adulthood. I also share my own personal experience of sexual abuse and how it affected me both in childhood and adulthood - in some very surprising ways!

There are different types of lies - and liars. What motivates someone to lie? How can we spot a liar? And how can we deal with lies or a liar? I delve into all of these questions in this episode.

There are several different types of depression (depressive disorders). This episode describes the various types of depression, signs and symptoms and various treatment options.

There are several different kinds of childhood abuse and I will be doing an episode on each type. I give a quick rundown of the different types of childhood abuse, then get into the theme for this episode which is PHYSICAL ABUSE. We'll look at what physical abuse is, signs, symptoms and red flags which might indicate physical abuse is taking place. We'll look at the effects the abuse can have on the child and into adulthood. I'll discuss treatment options. Finally, at the end of the episode I share my own personal history of childhood physical abuse - how...

GASLIGHTING (TRIGGER WARNING!) is incredibly destructive and can leave the victim utterly confused, doubting their own reality and even thinking they are going mad. What are the tactics a Gaslighter uses and what are the signs and symptoms to look out for if you think you are the victim of Gaslighting? We'll explore this and much more in this episode.

OCD can be debilitating for those who suffer with it. In this episode I describe the different types of OCD, how OCD can occur, the symptoms it can produce and, not least, treatment options.

TRIGGER WARNING! There are several types of eating disorders. In this episode I tell you about 6 different types; how they might occur; what to look for if you think your child or someone you know has an eating disorder; and I also discuss some treatment options.

How can you tell the difference between constructive feedback and destructive (or toxic) criticism? And how do you deal with both forms of criticism when you are the recipient? These questions and more are answered in this episode.

Do you obsess over your placement in podcast stat charts? Are you constantly checking where you're placed in the charts? Is your day made or ruined by how well or badly you're doing in the charts? Well you may have OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder).....

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT) is a proven method of treating many different psychological conditions and disorders. Here is an introduction to CBT: what it is, the different types of CBT, the various conditions it can - and cannot - treat, pitfalls to be aware of and, finally, a couple of examples from my own practice.

Bullying can be devastating for the victim. What causes someone to become a bully? How can you recognise if your child is being bullied? And if you yourself are being bullied, how can you deal with it? Hopefully this episode will give you some answers.

How does someone develop Narcissistic Personality Disorder? What are the signs and symptoms to look for if you think you or someone around you has NPD? Let's dive into this fascinating diagnosis!

Have you ever been in a romantic relationship where someone treated you badly - but you couldn't let them go? It's more common than you think! If you start to love yourself, you will start to let them go! In this episode I describe the mechanisms behind such relationships, how you can recognise them - and how to change those behavioural patterns once and for all. Good luck on your journey - and Namaste!🦋

Have you ever called someone out on something, only to have them accuse YOU of the same thing? Have you ever been ghosted? Has someone got really angry with you and you don't know why? Do you have mommy/daddy issues which affect how you react in certain situations? All of these behavioural patterns are DEFENCE MECHANISMS. In this episode I describe some of the most common defence mechanisms, how to spot them and how to deal with them. Enjoy!

Did you know that some estimates say that 1 in 10 men and 1 in 20 women have sociopathic tendencies? How can you recognise a sociopath or psychopath and more importantly, how do you deal with them?

An introduction to NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming); what it is; how it works; and how effective it is. Enjoy! Namaste🦋

In this episode I explain the difference between a healthy self esteem and an over-inflated ego. Why do some people have an unrealistic view of themselves? How do you recognise and deal with someone who has an inflated sense of their own importance? I delve into these questions and more in this episode. Enjoy!

Do you know where your personal boundaries are? Do you know where others' boundaries are? Do you have respect for your own & others' boundaries? Hopefully this episode will help you clarify things. Namaste!🙏🦋