The Contemplative Science Podcast UnBroken: How To Deal With Grief
Apr 19, 2023
Dr. Rachel Taylor, a neuropsychologist, discusses the cognitive mechanics of grief and loss. Topics include mirror neurons, effects of environment, alcohol's impact on the brain, and the importance of planning for death. The podcast aims to help listeners integrate contemplative life lessons.
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Grief As A Survival Mechanism
- Grief is a brain-driven survival response that floods emotion to overlay painful memories.
- Rachel Taylor explains the brain wants to remember loss intensely so it can prevent recurrence, making grief a fundamentally selfish process.
PTSD As Unrecovered Shock
- What we call PTSD is often a nervous system still recovering from overwhelming shock, not a disorder.
- Taylor reframes PTSD as an unprocessed response due to inadequate validation or support after trauma.
Use Clear Language To Prepare For Death
- Talk about death plainly to increase predictability and reduce shock.
- Taylor recommends using clear language (not metaphors) and practising conversations about death to strengthen your brain's predictive model.