Have you ever sat in a peaceful room, with nothing wrong, no deadlines, no arguments, no danger anywhere in sight, and still felt your stomach knot up for no reason at all? Your jaw is clenched. Your leg won’t stop bouncing. And when someone asks what’s wrong, you genuinely don’t know what to say, because nothing is wrong. Not on paper, anyway. Here’s what’s actually happening. Your brain is stuck in the sympathetic nervous system, the fight-or-flight mode. Shalmalee Gadgil 1

You know the feeling. Someone you loved stops loving you back, and suddenly there's this dull ache sitting right in your chest. You clutch a cushion, you can't eat, you keep saying "it hurts" as if you've actually been injured. Not sad. Not disappointed. Hurt. Psychology says that the brain does not differentiate between physical and emotional pain. Scientific research has been conducted where fMRI scans were studied of people who went through emotional pain, and what they fo

Sometimes heartbreak isn’t explosive. It doesn’t come from one dramatic betrayal or a single fight. Instead, it’s quiet — a slow erosion...

Gaslighting by proxy is when someone manipulates others into doubting their perception of you. Which makes you doubt your reality. For example, they spread twisted stories to beforehand so that when you defend yourself, everyone else already sees you as “overreacting” or “the problem.” Shalmalee Gadgil 23rd August 2025 Flying Monkeys executing the gaslighting. They may or may not be aware of the intention of the manipulator. What Is Gaslighting by Proxy? Gaslighting by proxy

Self-sabotage is when our actions—or inactions—hold us back from achieving our goals. It can be perplexing, but understanding why we...

Do you feel embarrassed in social situations or tend to reduce interaction because you're worried about being judged? This doesn't necessarily make you an introvert. These are symptoms of anxiety. 'Fear' is a major defining factor that changes how you approach your social life and well-being. Let’s break down the difference between being an introvert (a personality trait) and experiencing social anxiety (a psychological symptom). Shalmalee Gadgil 07th May 2024 What does it me

Cutting-edge research suggests that the moon's gravitational and magnetic pull can affect the human brain's biochemistry, leading to...

Low self-esteem can lead to feelings of inadequacy, which can in turn lead to a need to overcompensate by constantly putting oneself above others through arrogant or condescending behaviour. This can manifest as a superiority complex. Shalmalee Gadgil 28-05-2023 "Hurt people hurt people" is a popular saying for a reason. The way we feel about ourselves often plays into how we interact with those around us. When we're truly content with who we are and the lives we've created,

If a person believes in an outcome, they are more likely to automatically achieve that outcome. This is the basis for the power of...

Ever wondered why you seem to be uneasy and dissatisfied in a relationship even though everything is going smoothly? The reason you find...

Cannabis and its by-products, specifically with high THC levels, can impact executive cognitive functioning and one’s propensity to...

Studies suggest that exposure to screen-type light from 11:00 pm to 4:00 pm activates a specific circuitry in your brain called the Hebanula, lowering dopamine and creating the feelings of disappointment and melancholy. This is suggested to be one of the factors that cause and sustain Major Depressive Disorder and spectrum disorders. Shalmalee Gadgil 02-05-2023 The most potent impact of light on physiology and behavioural state comes from its regulation of circadian rhythms.