episode 81: 🔍 Why You React Before You Think: Emotional Hijacks, Explained
Tue Jul 15 2025
This one’s a little more sciencey than I usually go, but I’ve done that on purpose. Because if you’re anything like the women I work with, you don’t just want tools…You want to understand how and why things actually work. You want to know what’s really going on when you’re spiralling, shutting down, over-apologising, or trying to force calm but feeling anything but.
So in this conversation, I’m walking you through the inner mechanics of emotional regulation, and the real reason why all your mindset work, breathwork, and journaling sometimes still don’t cut it.
We’re talking:
The role of the amygdala (your brain’s built-in alarm system)The prefrontal cortex (your inner CEO that goes offline when you’re overwhelmed)Why emotional hijacks aren’t personal flaws, they’re survival responsesHow neuroplasticity means you can retrain your emotional patternsAnd how grounding practices like breathwork, movement, and rest don’t just “feel good”; they literally help your brain come back onlineI created this to help you feel less like you’re “too sensitive” or “not trying hard enough”… and more like a woman whose brilliant nervous system is just asking for the right kind of support.
This isn’t about doing more. (Hear me on this one!) It’s about understanding the invisible mechanics behind why you feel what you feel, and learning how to work with your biology, not against it. When you know how to respond to your body’s signals instead of suppressing them, everything changes. Because emotional regulation isn't just about staying calm, it’s about creating the safety your brain needs to choose presence, power, and peace.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Emotional Hijacks
02:36 The Brain's Emotional Circuitry
05:28 The Role of the Amygdala in Emotional Responses
08:19 Navigating Emotional Reactions
11:03 The Importance of Context in Emotional Regulation
13:50 Neuroplasticity and Emotional Resilience
More
This one’s a little more sciencey than I usually go, but I’ve done that on purpose. Because if you’re anything like the women I work with, you don’t just want tools…You want to understand how and why things actually work. You want to know what’s really going on when you’re spiralling, shutting down, over-apologising, or trying to force calm but feeling anything but. So in this conversation, I’m walking you through the inner mechanics of emotional regulation, and the real reason why all your mindset work, breathwork, and journaling sometimes still don’t cut it. We’re talking: The role of the amygdala (your brain’s built-in alarm system)The prefrontal cortex (your inner CEO that goes offline when you’re overwhelmed)Why emotional hijacks aren’t personal flaws, they’re survival responsesHow neuroplasticity means you can retrain your emotional patternsAnd how grounding practices like breathwork, movement, and rest don’t just “feel good”; they literally help your brain come back onlineI created this to help you feel less like you’re “too sensitive” or “not trying hard enough”… and more like a woman whose brilliant nervous system is just asking for the right kind of support. This isn’t about doing more. (Hear me on this one!) It’s about understanding the invisible mechanics behind why you feel what you feel, and learning how to work with your biology, not against it. When you know how to respond to your body’s signals instead of suppressing them, everything changes. Because emotional regulation isn't just about staying calm, it’s about creating the safety your brain needs to choose presence, power, and peace. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Emotional Hijacks 02:36 The Brain's Emotional Circuitry 05:28 The Role of the Amygdala in Emotional Responses 08:19 Navigating Emotional Reactions 11:03 The Importance of Context in Emotional Regulation 13:50 Neuroplasticity and Emotional Resilience