Unpacking Early Adversity Through Animal Studies (Yes, It’s Relevant)

Ever wondered how those newborn moments shape who we become? “Unpacking Early Adversity Through Animal Studies (Yes, It’s Relevant)” dives into the compelling world of early-life experience, and what rodents teach us about human development.

· It’s not just “cute science”: Through clever experiments in rodents, researchers show that stress, neglect, and unstable environments during the newborn period disrupt critical brain development, altering circuitry involved in emotion, learning, and stress control

· Mom is everything: The study reveals that maternal well-being isn’t a bonus, it’s foundational. When a mother is stressed or depleted, her caregiving falters. That ripple effect launches young brains onto a tougher path.

· Three types of adversity (and they’re all relatable): From basic resource scarcity to active neglect to chaotic nesting—each disrupts maternal care and imprints the very architecture of offspring brains.

· Want hope? Enrichment sparks resilience: On the flip side, stimulating environments—think novelty, social contact, sensory play, can help repair early damage and foster neural flexibility.

Curious? This article's a compelling look into how animal data reveals the importance of nurturing early years—and why supporting caregivers is our best bet for healthier futures.

conflict, Emotions, self esteemhabiba zamanJuly 24, 2025mom stress, mental health, resilencey, support, stress, early childhood adversityComment

5 Steps to Heal from Gaslighting

How to Tell If Someone Is Gaslighting You

-New Port Institute/ Mental Health

With more young people talking openly about mental health, gaslighting has become an increasingly common topic among this age group over the last few years. Gaslighting and other forms of emotional abuse have also shown up in popular media recently—for example, in the Netflix series Maid, the novel and movie The Girl on the Train, and the reality TV show The Bachelorette.

Overall, that’s a good thing, because greater awareness around this form of emotional abuse can help people avoid threatening and unhealthy relationships. But before you accuse someone of this behavior, it’s important to understand what gaslighting really means and how to look for the signs of gaslighting in a relationship.

Let’s take a closer look at the definition and origin of the word gaslighting, the mental health impact of this behavior, and how to tell if someone is gaslighting you.

Emotions, conflict, mental health, general, relationship, self help, self esteemhabiba zamanDecember 1, 2021gaslighting, emotions, empowerment, pandemic, coping, healing, arguments, mental health, counselor, manipulation, abuseComment

Learning to Love Yourself