Feeling the holiday squeeze? You're not alone—65% of people with depression histories report Thanksgiving worsening their symptoms, while 40% battle spiked anxiety from family expectations and old wounds. In this mind-expanding episode of the Brain Lady Podcast, neurotherapist Karen D. Wood (your favorite brainiac) teams up with producer PhillVill to unpack the neurology of gratitude. Discover why your limbic system (that trauma-fueled alarm in your mid-brain) hijacks joy, lighting up the amygdala like a fireworks show gone wrong—and how targeted gratitude rewires it for safety.
From prefrontal cortex scans for wise scanning (forehead glow-up!) to vagus nerve hacks (deep swallows to calm your gut-brain axis), we break down somatic tools to counter triggers before they escalate (scale: catch at 5-6, dodge the 8-10 hijack). Phil shares his raw journey from childhood divorce shadows to miracle-child gratitude, proving "count it all joy" (James 1:2-4) isn't fluff—it's brain-healing science. Plus, Bible-backed reminders like Psalm 100:4: Enter His gates with thanksgiving.

Key Takeaways:

Build a 20-item gratitude list to outfight limbic "complaint creep" (most stall at 4—try it!).
Body-first resets: Shoulder rolls + swallows for instant parasympathetic calm.
Reward your brain: Plan post-dinner bliss to fire dopamine.

Healing starts here—grab your "Brain Prayers" book for deeper dives (link in bio). Hit play, then drop a comment: What's your #1 gratitude this holiday season? Subscribe for weekly brain boosts—we're at 30K strong and growing!

#ThanksgivingAnxiety #GratitudeNeuroscience #HolidayTraumaHealing #BrainLadyPodcast
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro & Holiday Stats
02:00 "Triggers Override Gratitude" Quote
04:36 Prefrontal Cortex Magic
11:47 Live Gratitude Challenge
22:00 Full Brain Activation Visual
27:00 Faith & Final Tips

📕 Karen D. Wood is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker inviting everyone to find a new balance in Brain, Body, Behavior and Belief. Learning about the brain functions, and impact of trauma on brain tissue can be life changing, knowing healing is changing brain tissue. Learn more about her mission and how she is changing lives here: https://karendwood.com

She is the author of Brain Prayers: Explore Your Brain, Expand Your Prayers. An exploration of different brain parts, with prayers for each. One for you to pray for you, and one for you to pray for another. For more information: http://brainprayers.com/

📖 Get the Book: Brain Prayers
Explore 10 brain parts with prayers for healing yourself and others.
To order:

first version 2014 (90 pages, black background, 3 pages for each of the 10 brain parts.
https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Prayers-Explore-Your-Expand/dp/1490833625
second version 2924 (35 pages, white background, 1 page for each of the 10 brain parts)
https://www.amazon.com/Brain-Prayers-Explore-Your-Expand/dp/196284899X?ref_=ast_author_mpb


For more information on her podcast Brain Lady Notes from the Couch with Karen D. Wood visit: https://www.brainladypodcast.com/, with links to all episodes.

🎙️ The Brain Lady Podcast – Notes from the Couch
Unravel brain mysteries with practical tools for growth. All episodes: brainladypodcast.com

🍎 Apple Podcasts: apple.co/3Yp2vjP
🟢 Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/0LrNjXtGDuquCa5bI3FHHA

📺 Watch on YouTube: Video episodes and clips.
youtube.com/@BrainLadyPodcast
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📧 Contact Karen: brainlady@karendwood.com
Clear Thinking Solutions, Inc. (Non-Profit for Trauma Recovery)
🌐 Website: clearthinkingsolutions.org
📱 Instagram: instagram.com/clear_thinking_it
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/ClearThinkingSolutions
📧 Email: karen@clearthinkingsolutions.com
🚨 Disclaimer: The Brain Lady Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. Karen shares personal stories and knowledge for insights and growth. It's not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult qualified professionals for mental health needs. References to sessions protect client privacy.

Produced by: @PodcastLair @phillvill @Delugence​