- Disorders of gut-brain interaction surged 44% since COVID-19. - IBS ↑ 28%, functional dyspepsia ↑ 44%. - Long COVID patients: higher rates + worse anxiety, depression, quality of life. 👉 Stress and lifestyle disruption rewired how gut + nervous system communicate. Takeaway: Don’t dismiss gut issues as “just stress.”Managing stress, sleep, and anxiety can improve digestion — and vice versa.

That terrible feeling when you know you need to say no, but guilt crushes you anyway? It isn’t weakness, it’s your nervous system replaying an old survival rule. 🧠 Therapist Corner: Boundary Guilt Explained - If “no” feels unbearable, it’s often because your nervous system learned early that other people’s comfort mattered more than your needs. - Growing up, saying no might have been punished with anger, disappointment, or withdrawal of love. - Now even healthy boundaries trigger the same old alarm. Key Distinction: - Responsible to people = kindness & respect. - Responsible for people = managing their emotions. ✅ Boundaries don’t destroy connection. Fake yeses do. Try this today: - “That doesn’t work for me.” (no over-explaining) - Ask: “Am I saying yes because I want to — or because I’m afraid of their reaction?” - Repeat: “My boundaries teach people how to treat me with respect.”

Your brain is a survival machine. When it latches onto one negative detail, ignoring everything else — that’s not failure; it’s your nervous system running a protection loop. Example: - One critique at work overshadows five compliments. - One awkward moment in conversation erases an hour of connection. This is called selective abstraction, or the “mental filter.” It’s a loop that quietly reinforces an identity of “not enough.” Rewire the Loop: 1. Catch it: Notice when your mind narrows in. 2. Interrupt it: Take a breath — exhale twice as long as the inhale to calm the vagus nerve. 3. Expand the frame: Ask, “What’s the whole story?” Name at least three neutral or positive elements in the situation. 4. Anchor a new identity: Identity Shift:From → “I always mess up.”To → “I am learning, improving, and more capable than I think.” Identity Drill:Every night this week, write down one moment you zoomed in on the negative. Rewrite it through the lens of your evolving identity. Watch how your nervous system softens over time.

Have you ever been on the receiving end of, “I’m just being honest”, and felt your stomach drop? What they call honesty is often just unregulated nervous system energy, a discharge of shame, fear, or control disguised as “truth-telling.” Identity Check-In: Your identity isn’t built by absorbing other people’s projections. Every time you allow someone’s careless words to penetrate unchecked, your nervous system takes the hit, and you shrink to fit their story. Reframe the Moment: - Pause. Breathe into your belly. Remind yourself: This is their dysregulation, not my truth. - Respond with clarity: - Anchor back into your chosen identity: “I am grounded. I don’t absorb noise.” Identity Practice for Today: Write down three identity statements to protect your state: 1. I am not what others say I am. 2. I choose responses, not reactions. 3. I protect my nervous system first, always How do you set boundaries when “honesty” feels like an attack? Share your take in the comments. Let’s build stronger nervous systems together.

Need a quick reset? The new 15-Minute Breathwork Reset is now live in our Classroom. In this guided session, we’ll work through three stages to: •⁠ ⁠Calm your nervous system •⁠ ⁠Clear mental fog •⁠ ⁠Leave you feeling grounded and energised No experience needed — just find a quiet spot, press play, and follow along. 📍 Watch it now in the 'Classroom' tab under “15-Minute Breathwork Reset.”