Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson

Cognitive Bypassing, Traumatic Experiences, and Managing Triggers with Simone Saunders

Sep 9, 2024

01:06:47

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Simone Saunders, a trauma therapist specializing in cognitive bypassing, joins the conversation to explore the intricate dance between emotions and cognition. They delve into the concept of cognitive bypassing and its ties to trauma, discussing how somatic tools can break the cycle of overthinking. Topics such as the freeze and fawn stress responses, managing triggers, and the challenges of unhealthy relationships are tackled. The duo emphasizes the importance of emotional authenticity, agency, and the transformative power of navigating grief.

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Quick takeaways

Cognitive bypassing often leads to emotional disconnection by encouraging individuals to over-intellectualize their feelings rather than fully experiencing them.

Somatic therapy provides essential tools for integrating mind and body, allowing individuals to connect with their emotions through physical sensations.

Authentic self-expression and community support play pivotal roles in healing by fostering deeper connections and reducing feelings of shame and isolation.

Deep dives

Understanding Cognitive Bypassing

Cognitive bypassing is a common phenomenon where individuals avoid their emotions by over-intellectualizing or focusing solely on rationale. This behavior often prevents people from fully experiencing their feelings, contributing to a disconnect between mind and body. For instance, someone might discuss the details of a painful breakup, articulating their thoughts and insights without connecting with the underlying emotions of sadness or loss. Such avoidance not only limits emotional healing but can leave individuals stuck, knowing the reasons behind their feelings yet not feeling them in a meaningful way.

Emotions Overlooked: The Double-Edged Sword of Trauma

01:25

Know Thy Emotions to Understand Thyself

01:52

Cultivating Open Dialogue Builds Therapeutic Trust

00:47

Embrace Shame, Don't Deny It

01:28

Intro

2min

Bridging Mind and Body in Therapy

16min

Navigating Emotional Anchors and Relationships

6min

Navigating Shame and Emotional Complexity in Difficult Relationships

6min

Understanding Self-Worth and Connection

13min

The Power of Relationships in Therapy

11min

Navigating Grief and Authenticity

11min

Exploring Shame and Authenticity in Personal Growth

2min

Forrest dives into cognitive bypassing - a common strategy many of us use to avoid feeling difficult emotions - with trauma therapist Simone Saunders. Simone and Forrest discuss the connection between cognitive bypassing and trauma before exploring somatic tools that can help us avoid an endless cycle of overthinking, and fully process our experiences. They focus on the “freeze” and “fawn” stress responses, and talk about how these responses can impact our relationships and everyday interactions. The conversation widens from there to include topics like letting go of unhealthy relationships, navigating the shame that can come with self-awareness, working through triggers, finding more agency, and changing our models of conflict.

You can watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00: Introduction

1:25: What’s cognitive bypassing?

5:55: Somatic approaches, and widening the window of tolerance

18:10: The freeze and fawn responses

22:25: Grieving letting go of unhealthy relationships

26:20: Shame, the problem with self-awareness, and identifying your values

35:35: How to move through “first contact” with our triggers

38:05: Feeling connected to others

41:55: Agency, and being embodied in a relationship

47:30: Changing how we see conflict

51:15: Grief as self-awareness, and expressing ourselves

57:25: Recap

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