If you're stuck in fight-or-flight, your brain is working against...
Lorwen Harris Nagle, PhD@LORWEN108
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Aug 01, 2025
~3 min read
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If you're stuck in fight-or-flight, your brain is working against you.
Neuroscience proves your brain can become addicted to stress—causing chronic dysregulation.
To fix it, you need to heal your brain.
Here's how stress hijacks your brain and how to reverse it:
Neuroscience proves your brain can become addicted to stress—causing chronic dysregulation.
To fix it, you need to heal your brain.
Here's how stress hijacks your brain and how to reverse it:
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First off, what is the fight-or-flight response?
It’s your body’s survival response.
It kicks in during perceived danger, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
This is ok in short bursts, but when it’s persistent, it leads to longterm chronic diseases.
Let's explore this↓
It’s your body’s survival response.
It kicks in during perceived danger, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline.
This is ok in short bursts, but when it’s persistent, it leads to longterm chronic diseases.
Let's explore this↓
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Chronic stress causes hypervigilance.
What's hypervigilance?
It's a state where you're parasympathetic (PSN) and sympathetic (SNS) nervous systems are intensely activated.
Both systems get “stuck on high alert” leading to:
1. Poor focus.
2. Extreme fatigue.
3.Decreased alertness.
4. Decreased muscle tone.
5. Chronic and persistent pain.
6. Chronic anxious symptoms.
What's hypervigilance?
It's a state where you're parasympathetic (PSN) and sympathetic (SNS) nervous systems are intensely activated.
Both systems get “stuck on high alert” leading to:
1. Poor focus.
2. Extreme fatigue.
3.Decreased alertness.
4. Decreased muscle tone.
5. Chronic and persistent pain.
6. Chronic anxious symptoms.
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Science has proved your brain becomes addicted to stress.
When you're stressed 24/7:
• The amygdala (fear center) grows stronger.
• The prefrontal cortex (logic and reasoning) grows weaker.
• Cortisol is constantly flooding your body.
• Adrenaline peaks, keeping you on hyper-alert.
Both chemicals create an infinite feedback loop that becomes your "normal" state.
It means you can't fully relax, let go or feel safe--EVER.
When you're stressed 24/7:
• The amygdala (fear center) grows stronger.
• The prefrontal cortex (logic and reasoning) grows weaker.
• Cortisol is constantly flooding your body.
• Adrenaline peaks, keeping you on hyper-alert.
Both chemicals create an infinite feedback loop that becomes your "normal" state.
It means you can't fully relax, let go or feel safe--EVER.
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Chronic stress leads to:
• Fatigue
• Chronic pain
• Sleep disorders
• Heart disease
• Weakened immune system
• Persistent anxiety and depression
• Fatigue
• Chronic pain
• Sleep disorders
• Heart disease
• Weakened immune system
• Persistent anxiety and depression
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SHOCKINGLY--the more our stress loop repeats, the more “normal” stress feels to your brain.
Stress becomes your default state.
The limbic system [your emotional brain center]
stays inflamed 24/7.
But here's the good news: Your brain can rewire itself.
You can get out of this negative thought loop...
Stress becomes your default state.
The limbic system [your emotional brain center]
stays inflamed 24/7.
But here's the good news: Your brain can rewire itself.
You can get out of this negative thought loop...
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Our brains are changeable! Neuroplastic.
Neuroplasticity means:
-The brain develops new skills.
-Your neurons reorganize themselves.
-Brand new neural pathways are formed.
-Your brain completely recovers from injuries.
Even after years of trauma, stress and poor conditioning, your brain can heal and restore itself.
Neuroplasticity means:
-The brain develops new skills.
-Your neurons reorganize themselves.
-Brand new neural pathways are formed.
-Your brain completely recovers from injuries.
Even after years of trauma, stress and poor conditioning, your brain can heal and restore itself.
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Talk therapy alone isn't enough.
Traditional therapy focuses on conscious thoughts while stress is more unconscious and stored in the limbic system and your gut.
But when deep analytic work is combined with art therapy and embodied cognition, the whole game changes.
I'll show you how:
Traditional therapy focuses on conscious thoughts while stress is more unconscious and stored in the limbic system and your gut.
But when deep analytic work is combined with art therapy and embodied cognition, the whole game changes.
I'll show you how:
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My neuroscience-backed approach combines:
1. Psychoanalysis based on Donald Winnicott and Karen Horney.
2. It includes art therapy and drawing, targeting hidden insights stored in the limbic system.
3. It strengthens the default mode network's constructive imaginative mind wandering function.
The result?
1. Rumination and negative thought loops fall away organically.
2. You receive faster, deeper healing that calms your nervous system and restores balance permanently.
1. Psychoanalysis based on Donald Winnicott and Karen Horney.
2. It includes art therapy and drawing, targeting hidden insights stored in the limbic system.
3. It strengthens the default mode network's constructive imaginative mind wandering function.
The result?
1. Rumination and negative thought loops fall away organically.
2. You receive faster, deeper healing that calms your nervous system and restores balance permanently.
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Emotional trauma keeps you stuck in the fight-or-flight response.
My Anxiety Relief Transformation (ART) program works by:
• Releasing stored tension in your body.
• Rewiring the stress response in your brain.
My Anxiety Relief Transformation (ART) program works by:
• Releasing stored tension in your body.
• Rewiring the stress response in your brain.
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You can't heal years of anxiety, depression, and stress by thinking your way through it.
The key lies in activating the autonomic nervous system, the body's natural healing mechanism.
My walking outdoors without devices:
1. Soothes the limbic system.
2. Strengthens the default mode network.
3. Regulates the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
The key lies in activating the autonomic nervous system, the body's natural healing mechanism.
My walking outdoors without devices:
1. Soothes the limbic system.
2. Strengthens the default mode network.
3. Regulates the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.
1:20
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Based on years of experience as a therapist and working with Tibetans and the Dalai Lama,
I've developed a unique way to address chronic anxiety that is backed by neuroscience, Eastern philosophy and artistic expression.
Here are changes my clients consistently report:
• Improved sleep quality
• Boosted energy & vitality
• Healing from past trauma
• Increased mental clarity and focus
• Relief from chronic pain and tension
• Enhanced emotional regulation and well-being
I've developed a unique way to address chronic anxiety that is backed by neuroscience, Eastern philosophy and artistic expression.
Here are changes my clients consistently report:
• Improved sleep quality
• Boosted energy & vitality
• Healing from past trauma
• Increased mental clarity and focus
• Relief from chronic pain and tension
• Enhanced emotional regulation and well-being
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As a Ph.D. clinical psychologist from
@UTAustin x.com/UTAustin
and CBT- trained at
@Harvard x.com/Harvard
psychologist. I can help you unlock your mental barriers for greater success. So, if you feel lost, confused, or stressed out with your current life, schedule a free discovery call:
calendly.com/lorwen_consult…
@UTAustin x.com/UTAustin
and CBT- trained at
@Harvard x.com/Harvard
psychologist. I can help you unlock your mental barriers for greater success. So, if you feel lost, confused, or stressed out with your current life, schedule a free discovery call:
calendly.com/lorwen_consult…
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