How to Combat Pain

How to Combat Pain

Pain feels like a simple message from the body. If your elbow hurts, there must be something wrong with your elbow. If your back is painfully stiff, you need some work done on your back. But psychologist Rachel Zoffness [https://www.zoffness.com/] says our minds play a much larger role in our experience of pain than many of us realize. This week, we look at what's really happening when we experience pain, and how a better understanding of this process can open up new possibilities for treatment and healing.  In our companion conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, Rachel Zoffness goes deeper into techniques that can help to reduce our brains' sensitivity to pain. You can hear that episode, which is called "Plastic Brain, Changeable Brain," with a free seven-day trial to Hidden Brain+. Go to support.hiddenbrain.org [https://www.patreon.com/c/HiddenBrain] or apple.co/hiddenbrain [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?at=1010l3ab3&ct=hiddenbrain_podcasts&itsct=hiddenbrain_podcasts&itscg=30200S&ls=1] to access your trial subscription. For more Hidden Brain ideas and insights, be sure to check out our new YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@HiddenBrain]! And don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any of our upcoming videos.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Changing Our Mental Maps

As we move through the world, it's easy to imagine we're processing everything that happens around us and then deciding how to respond. But psychologist and neuroscientist Norman Farb [https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/psychology/people/norman-farb] says our brains actually navigate the world by coming up with mental maps. These maps act like an autopilot system, allowing us to navigate our lives more efficiently. But sometimes, they can lead us astray, leaving us stuck on a path of negativity and unhappiness. This week, in a favorite episode from 2024, we talk with Norman Farb about how we can update our internal maps and see the world more clearly. Then, Dave Evans [https://lifedesignlab.stanford.edu/team] answers your questions about radical acceptance. If you love listening to Hidden Brain, you can now watch it as well! Check out our new YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@HiddenBrain], and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of our upcoming videos. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 2

Last week, we talked with psychologist Lisa Miller [https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/lfm14/] about the science of spirituality. Today, we explore what those ideas can look like in everyday life. Miller explains why moments of connection, spiritual practices, and even periods of suffering can sometimes open the door to deeper meaning and growth. And on Your Questions Answered, behavioral scientist Dave Evans [https://lifedesignlab.stanford.edu/team] returns to respond to your comments on designing a meaningful life.   Hidden Brain is now on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenbrain]! Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of our upcoming videos.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Waking Up Your Spiritual Brain: Part 1

Food, safety, and strong relationships are essential to our survival. Psychologist Lisa Miller [https://www.tc.columbia.edu/faculty/lfm14/] says our brains also crave something else: transcendence. She suggests that spirituality is a universal human capacity, and that feeling connected to something larger than ourselves may be essential to a fulfilling life.  If you enjoy listening to Hidden Brain, we think you'll enjoy watching it, too! Check out our new YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@HiddenBrain/], and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of our videos.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stepping Out of the Shadows

Why does one bad experience have the power to overshadow an otherwise good day? Psychologist Alison Ledgerwood [https://psychology.ucdavis.edu/people/alison-ledgerwood] explores the negativity bias, the deeply human tendency to hold on to what went wrong and overlook what went right. She explains why our minds are drawn to losses and threats, and what it takes to rebalance our attention. Then, on Your Questions Answered, psychologist David Pizarro [https://psychology.cornell.edu/david-pizarro] returns to respond to your comments about the surprising role of disgust in shaping our lives.  In our companion conversation for Hidden Brain+, we explore how politicians and the media exploit the negativity bias. If you're a subscriber, that episode is titled “Going Negative.” If you're not yet a subscriber, you can get a free seven-day trial of Hidden Brain+ by going to support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hidden brain [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-brain/id1028908750?at=1010l3ab3&ct=hiddenbrain_podcasts&itsct=hiddenbrain_podcasts&itscg=30200S&ls=1].  If you love listening to Hidden Brain, you'll love watching it as well! Check out our new YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/@HiddenBrain] for Shankar's videos about how your memory works, tips for performing under pressure, and much more.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.