Thinking about starting therapy? Or just beginning your healing journey?
Before you dive in, there’s something most people are never told.
In the first few weeks of therapy, emotions can intensify, old memories can resurface, and you may feel worse instead of better. This is known as the activation dip — and it’s not a failure. It’s a sign that your mind is beginning real change.
In this episode, Dr. Caroline Leaf, clinical neuroscientist and mental health expert, explains the science behind why therapy can feel harder at first, what’s happening in your brain during emotional healing, and how to move through this phase without quitting too soon.
You’ll learn how to recognize the difference between productive discomfort and burnout, how to stay regulated during emotional activation, and how to set yourself up for lasting transformation from day one.
🧠 What you’ll learn in this episode:
✔️ Why therapy often feels worse before it feels better
✔️ What the activation dip is — and why it signals progress
✔️ The two key factors you can control to make therapy effective
✔️ How to track emotional and physical warning signals
✔️ Practical tools from Help in a Hurry to stay engaged and avoid early dropout
Join my annual 21-Day Brain Detox Challenge (starts Jan 1): reset your mind, break toxic thought cycles, and build real mental resilience—$50 off + a FREE surprise gift from Dr. Leaf! Register here: https://21daybraindetox.com/special/
🧠 Explore the Neurocycle App: https://neurocycle.app
📨 Join my mailing list: https://drleaf.com/pages/newsletter
🎙 Listen to all podcast episodes: https://drleaf.com/pages/podcast
🌐 Visit my website: https://www.drleaf.com
DISCLAIMER: This content is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
🧠 What you’ll learn in this episode:📘 Order Help in a Hurry
