Neuro immune health and mental health
- lauragoodall8
- Oct 21
- 1 min read
🧠 Your brain remembers pain better than praise — but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Ever notice how one harsh comment can echo for years, while genuine compliments fade within weeks?
That’s not you being “too sensitive.” It’s neuroscience.
The brain is wired for survival, not happiness.
Criticism activates the amygdala — the brain’s threat detector — and stamps the moment into long-term memory to help you avoid “danger” later.
Praise, on the other hand, triggers dopamine and serotonin but doesn’t carry the same emotional urgency, so it drifts away faster.
Psychologists call this the negativity bias. It’s why one rude remark can outweigh a dozen kind ones.
But here’s the encouraging part: what gets fired gets wired.
When you consciously replay positive moments, savour gratitude, or spend time with people who lift you, you’re actively teaching your brain to hold on to warmth and safety longer.
✨ Try this:
At the end of each day, recall three moments of appreciation or kindness — no matter how small. Feel them for at least 20 seconds.
That’s long enough to start rewiring your neural pathways toward calm, confidence, and connection.
Your mind may cling to pain, but your heart can be retrained to treasure kindness.
💬 What’s one compliment or kind thing someone said that’s stuck with you — even years later?
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