Negotiate Anything This Is Why You Shut Down in Tough Conversations (Neuroscience Explained)
15 snips
Jan 29, 2026 
Dr. Tracey Marks, a board-certified psychiatrist and clear science-based mental-health educator. She explains why high performers freeze in tough conversations and the brain mechanisms involved. Short techniques like micro-pauses, affect labeling, breathing, and journaling for staying grounded are discussed. Also covers emotional contagion, people-pleasing, prepping your brain with habits, and thoughts on AI mental health tools.
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From Engineering To Psychiatry
- Dr. Tracey Marks began as an electrical engineering major and later switched to psychiatry after medical school rotations.
- A psychiatry rotation revealed deep satisfaction in treating mental pain, prompting her career change.
Brain Treats Criticism As Threat
- Our brains treat social threats like ancient physical threats, diverting energy to defense and impairing rational thought.
- Recognizing this explains why high performers freeze during heated conversations and lose access to their skills.
Name The Emotion Precisely
- When triggered, label the emotion specifically (e.g., resentment, feeling disrespected) to clarify what's really bothering you.
- Specific labeling improves processing and reveals whether systemic issues or one-off events drive the feeling.
