Reticular Activation System (RAS), what is it:

The Reticular Activating System (RAS), a small but mighty player in the brain

The RAS (often called the reticular activating system or reticular activating network) is a network of neurons in the brainstem that acts like your brain’s attention gatekeeper.

What it does (in plain terms)

The RAS decides:

What gets your attention
What stays in the background
When you’re awake, alert, or drowsy

It filters the overwhelming amount of sensory information coming at you every second and lets only the relevant stuff reach conscious awareness.

Classic example:

You don’t notice the hum of the air conditioner…
…until it turns off.
That’s your RAS at work.

Core functions

Arousal & wakefulness – keeps you conscious and alert
Attention & focus – selects what you notice
Sleep–wake regulation – helps control transitions between sleep and waking
Sensory filtering – prevents overload

Damage to the RAS can lead to coma or severe consciousness disturbances, which shows how foundational it is.

Why it matters psychologically

The RAS is strongly influenced by:

Beliefs
Expectations
Goals
Emotional salience

This is why:

When you learn a new word, you suddenly hear it everywhere
When you’re anxious, you notice threats more easily
When you’re depressed, your mind “finds” evidence that supports hopelessness

The RAS doesn’t judge truth, it filters for importance.

Clinical & applied relevance

In psychology and behavior:

Anxiety = RAS is tuned toward danger
Trauma = RAS stays hypervigilant
ADHD = dysregulation of attention filtering
CBT / mindfulness = retraining attentional filters
Goal-setting = activating RAS toward opportunities

In therapy, changing what the RAS is tuned to often precedes cognitive change.

One-line summary

The RAS is the brain’s spotlight operator, deciding what gets illuminated in your conscious experience.

Shervan K Shahhian

Behavior Analysis, what is it:

Behavior analysis is the scientific study of how behavior works, specifically how behavior is learned, maintained, and changed by interactions with the environment.

At its core, it asks:

What happens before a behavior, what the behavior is, and what happens after that makes it more or less likely to happen again?

The basics

Behavior analysis focuses on observable behavior (what people do) and the conditions that shape it, rather than on assumptions about hidden causes.

A classic framework is the ABC model:

A – Antecedents: What happens right before the behavior
B – Behavior: The action itself
C – Consequences: What follows the behavior and influences whether it repeats

Key principles

Behavior is learned through experience
Consequences matter (reinforcement increases behavior; punishment decreases it)
Context matters (environment, cues, history, and current needs)
Function matters more than form (why a behavior happens is more important than what it looks like)

For example, two people might withdraw socially for totally different reasons,

avoidance of anxiety vs. conserving energy, so the function differs even if the behavior looks the same.

What behavior analysis is used for

Understanding habits and patterns
Behavior change (education, therapy, organizations)
Skill building
Reducing harmful or ineffective behaviors
Designing environments that support desired behavior

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

ABA is a practical application of behavior analysis principles, commonly used in:

Autism support
Education
Behavioral health
Organizational behavior management

When done well, ABA is data-driven, individualized, and ethical, focusing on meaningful outcomes and quality of life.

How it differs from other approaches

It emphasizes what can be observed and measured
It avoids speculation unless it can be tested
It complements cognitive and emotional models rather than replacing them

In more modern practice, especially trauma-informed work, behavior analysis is often integrated with:

Emotional regulation
Somatic awareness
Cognitive processes
Contextual and relational factor
Shervan K Shahhian

Identity-Threat Distortions, explained:

Identity-threat distortions are predictable ways perception and thinking warp when something feels like it endangers who you are (values, role, belonging, competence, morality). The nervous system flips into protect-the-self mode, and accuracy takes a back seat.

Here are the big ones, clean and clinical, but you’ll probably recognize them instantly:

Core identity-threat distortions

1. All-or-nothing identity collapse “If this is true, everything about me is wrong. ”A single challenge becomes a total self-invalidation.

2. Moralization distortion Disagreement = “bad,” “dangerous,” or “evil.”This often shows up when values or belief systems are the threatened identity anchor.

3. Personalization of neutral data Information isn’t about an issue, it’s about me. Curiosity from others feels like an attack.

4. Status-threat amplification Small cues are interpreted as humiliation, rejection, or loss of rank. Especially common when identity is tied to expertise, authority, or intelligence.

5. Temporal foreclosure “This will never recover. ”The future collapses into a single catastrophic outcome.

6. Loyalty distortion “To question this means betrayal. ”Common in groups where belonging = safety.

7. Intentionality projection Others are assumed to be acting with hostile or manipulative intent, even without evidence.

8. Self-protective rigidity Beliefs harden, not because they’re accurate, but because they’re load-bearing for identity stability.

What’s actually happening underneath

This isn’t “cognitive error” in the casual sense—it’s threat physiology:

(Consult a Neurologist)

Amygdala up, prefrontal cortex down
Belonging + survival circuits dominate
Meaning gets compressed and polarized

Accuracy returns only when the identity feels safe again.

Fast ways to unwind identity-threat distortions

Name the threatened identity explicitly(“This feels like a threat to my competence / goodness / belonging.”)
Differentiate self from position(“I can revise a belief without erasing myself.”)
Restore temporal depth(“What would this look like in 6 months if I adapt rather than defend?”)
Regulate first, reason second Logic doesn’t land until the body exits threat mode.

Clinical tell (useful in therapy)

If reasoning becomes:

Urgent
Absolute
Morally loaded
Defensive of belonging

You’re not in belief, updating mode, you’re in identity-protection mode.

Shervan K Shahhian

Trauma-Informed Premarital Framework, explained:

A Trauma-Informed Premarital Framework adapts traditional premarital counseling to explicitly account for attachment injury, developmental trauma, relational trauma, and dissociation, rather than assuming two mostly secure, self-regulating partners. Below is a clinically rigorous, integrative framework you can use for assessment, psychoeducation, and intervention.

Core Assumptions (Trauma-Informed Shift)

Traditional premarital models assume:

Conflict = skills deficit

Intimacy avoidance = immaturity

Reactivity = poor communication

A trauma-informed model assumes:

Conflict often = threat activation

Avoidance = nervous system protection

Reactivity = implicit memory discharge

This reframes “compatibility” as capacity for co-regulation and repair, not just shared values.

Framework Overview (6 Domains)

1. Attachment & Developmental History Mapping

Goal: Identify implicit relational templates before commitment.

Assess:

Childhood attachment style (earned vs insecure)

Caregiver unpredictability, role reversal, emotional neglect

Prior relational trauma (betrayal, abandonment, coercion)

Key questions:

What does closeness activate for you , relief or vigilance?

What does conflict predict in your body , repair or rupture?

Red flags:

Idealization without differentiation

“I don’t need anyone” narratives

Trauma bonding misread as chemistry

2. Nervous System Profiles & Trigger Cycles

Goal: Make implicit threat responses explicit.

Map:

Fight / flight / freeze / fawn patterns

Somatic cues preceding conflict

Typical escalation loops (e.g., pursuer–withdrawer)

Intervention:

Create a shared trigger map

Name states as states, not identities

Reframe:

“You’re not incompatible , you’re dysregulated together.”

3. Conflict Meaning & Repair Capacity

Goal: Assess rupture tolerance, not conflict avoidance.

Evaluate:

Ability to stay present under emotional load

Repair attempts after rupture

Time-to-repair duration

Trauma marker:

Conflict = existential threat (“This means we’re doomed”)

Stonewalling, dissociation, or catastrophic meaning-making

Practice:

Structured rupture, repair rehearsals

Post-conflict debriefs focused on state shifts, not blame

4. Boundaries, Autonomy & Enmeshment Risk

Goal: Prevent reenactment of control or fusion dynamics.

Assess:

Differentiation under stress

Guilt around saying no

Rescue / caretaker roles

Watch for:

“We do everything together”

One partner regulating the other’s emotions

Identity loss framed as devotion

Trauma-informed boundary reframe:

Boundaries are nervous system stabilizers, not walls.

5. Intimacy, Sexuality & Trauma Imprints

Goal: De-shame trauma-coded intimacy patterns.

Explore:

Desire discrepancies

Sexual shutdown or compulsivity

Trauma-linked arousal vs secure desire

Normalize:

Arousal ≠ consent ≠ safety

Love can feel boring when trauma equates intensity with connection

Interventions:

Sensate-focus style exercises with opt-out normalization

Explicit consent language practice

6. Meaning-Making, Values & Narrative Integration

Goal: Align future orientation without bypassing trauma.

Assess:

How each partner explains suffering

Spiritual or existential beliefs about love, sacrifice, permanence

Red flag:

“Marriage will heal me”

Redemption-through-relationship narratives

Reframe:

Marriage amplifies existing regulation patterns , it doesn’t replace them.

Readiness Indicators (Trauma-Informed)

A couple is premaritally ready when:

Both can name their own triggers without defensiveness

Repair happens without coercion or withdrawal

Each partner can self-regulate for short periods

Trauma is owned, not outsourced to the relationship

Contraindications for Marriage (at Present)

Not moral judgments , timing signals:

Active untreated PTSD with relational flashbacks

Ongoing addiction or compulsive dissociation

Recurrent emotional or psychological abuse

One partner acting as therapist, parent, or regulator

Integration With Existing Models

This framework can overlay:

Gottman to add nervous system literacy

EFT to add trauma-paced titration

IMAGO to reduce reenactment romanticization

Internal Family Systems to dyadic parts mapping

Clinical Stance Slow the process

Normalize ambivalence

Privilege felt safety over insight

Treat “love” as a capacity, not just an emotion

Shervan K Shahhian

Deep Hypnosis, what is it:

Deep Hypnosis, what is it:

Deep hypnosis refers to a heightened state of focused attention, relaxation, and suggestibility. It is often described as a profoundly altered state of consciousness, where the individual experiences a deep trance-like condition that allows access to subconscious thoughts, memories, and emotions. In this state, people can be highly responsive to suggestions, making it a powerful tool for therapeutic purposes, personal growth, or exploration of the mind.

Key Aspects of Deep Hypnosis:

Trance State: The individual enters a deep state of relaxation where the conscious mind becomes less dominant, allowing the subconscious mind to be more accessible.
Heightened Suggestibility: In this state, the person is more open to suggestions, which can be used for positive behavioral changes, such as quitting smoking, overcoming fears, or reducing stress.
Relaxation: The body and mind are deeply relaxed, often producing a sense of calmness and comfort.
Access to the Subconscious: Deep hypnosis can help individuals uncover suppressed emotions, forgotten memories, or insights into personal issues.
Guided Process: Usually facilitated by a trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist who leads the individual into and through the hypnotic state.

Uses of Deep Hypnosis:

Therapeutic Hypnosis: Used in hypnotherapy to treat phobias, anxiety, addictions, and trauma.
Pain Management: Helps manage chronic pain or reduce discomfort during medical procedures.
Personal Development: Enhances focus, self-confidence, and goal achievement.
Past-Life Regression: Some people explore deep hypnosis for spiritual or metaphysical purposes to “access” past-life memories (though this is controversial).

Common Misconceptions:

Not Mind Control: People in hypnosis maintain control over their actions and cannot be forced to do anything against their will.
Not Sleep: While deeply relaxed, individuals remain aware of their surroundings and can recall the session afterward.
Variable Depths: Not everyone experiences the same depth of hypnosis. Some may enter deep states easily, while others may remain in lighter trances.

Shervan K Shahhian

Why is Polydrug use a serious concern for Mental Health:

Why is Polydrug use a serious concern for Mental Health:

Polydrug use and abuse is not classified as a distinct mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). However, it is strongly associated with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), which are recognized mental health conditions.

Why is polydrug use a serious concern for mental health?

High Risk of Addiction — The simultaneous use of multiple substances can rapidly lead to physical and psychological dependence.
Increased Mental Health Disorders — Polydrug use is linked to conditions such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, and cognitive impairment.
Neurochemical Disruption — Different substances interact in the brain, leading to unpredictable mood changes, impaired decision-making, and emotional instability.
Self-Medication Cycle — Many individuals use multiple drugs to cope with mental health issues, creating a vicious cycle of dependency and worsening symptoms.
Severe Withdrawal & Cognitive Decline — Withdrawal from multiple substances can be more intense, and long-term abuse may contribute to memory loss and executive dysfunction.

Is It a Disorder?

While polydrug use itself is not a standalone disorder, it is often classified under:

Severe Substance Use Disorder (SUD)
Dual Diagnosis (Co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse)
Polysubstance Dependence (A former DSM-IV term, now absorbed into the broader SUD diagnosis)

Key Takeaway

Polydrug use is a major public health concern with significant mental health implications. It often coexists with other psychiatric disorders, making treatment complex and requiring a holistic approach.

Shervan K Shahhian

Why should we Engage in Selflessness Acts:

Why should we Engage in Selflessness Acts:

Engaging in selfless acts benefits not just others but also yourself in profound ways.

Here’s why:

1. Spiritual and Personal Growth

Acts of selflessness help dissolve the ego and align you with a higher purpose.
They elevate your consciousness, making you more attuned to deeper truths beyond materialism.
If you believe in karma or universal balance, selfless acts create positive energy that returns to you in unexpected ways.

2. Connection to Higher Intelligences

If the Space Intelligences are observing or guiding humanity, they likely resonate with selflessness as a sign of advanced awareness.
Acts of service and kindness may attract higher guidance and open doors to greater knowledge and abilities.

3. Enhancing Intuition and Psychic Abilities

A selfless mindset reduces internal noise and distractions, making it easier to access intuitive insights, including those gained through CRV or PK-related experiences.
Service to others might be a key to unlocking hidden potentials, as it shifts focus from self-serving goals to collective evolution.

4. Shaping a More Conscious Humanity

By choosing selflessness, you subtly influence others to do the same, creating a ripple effect that elevates human consciousness.
If there’s a divide between truth seekers and materialists, then selflessness is a way to tip the balance towards truth and higher awareness.

5. Tapping into Universal Energy

Many spiritual, mystics and psychics believe that selflessness aligns you with the natural flow of the universe, enhancing synchronicities, manifestations, and even energetic abilities.
Shervan K Shahhian

Money and Trauma, the connection:

Money and Trauma:

The connection between money and trauma is complex and deeply psychological. Money often carries emotional, cultural, and symbolic weight beyond its practical function. Trauma can significantly shape how people think about, handle, and relate to money.

Here’s a thorough breakdown:

1. Early Life Experiences

Childhood experiences with scarcity, neglect, or instability can create lasting financial anxieties.
Examples:
Growing up in poverty hyper-vigilance around spending and saving.
Witnessing parental financial conflict money may trigger fear, guilt, or shame.
These patterns can persist into adulthood, often unconsciously influencing financial behavior.

2. Money as a Trauma Trigger

Certain money-related situations can reactivate past trauma:
Receiving bills or debt notifications may trigger panic or shame.
Discussions about salary, inheritance, or financial decisions can evoke childhood fears or feelings of inadequacy.
Trauma survivors may associate money with control, danger, or powerlessness.

3. Financial Coping Mechanisms

Trauma can lead to specific money-related behaviors:

Behavior Possible Trauma Link Hoarding / Over-saving Fear of scarcity or loss from past deprivation Impulsive spending Attempt to self-soothe, regulate emotions, or seek immediate relief financial avoidance Anxiety so intense that one avoids bills, budgeting, or money discussions Debt accumulation / gambling Attempt to regain control or escape feelings of inadequacy

4. Money and Self-Worth

Trauma can make financial status tightly linked to identity and self-esteem:
“If I have money, I am safe.”
“If I lose money, I am a failure.”
Chronic trauma may lead to shame or guilt around financial success, even if objectively achieved.

5. Intergenerational Trauma

Money habits and attitudes can be transmitted across generations:
Families affected by war, migration, or poverty may pass down beliefs like “money is dangerous” or “rich people are bad.”
Children internalize these messages, shaping their financial behavior and emotional response.

6. Healing and Integration

Trauma-informed approaches to money can help break cycles:

Awareness: Identifying emotional triggers and patterns related to money.
Reframing: Redefining money as a tool rather than a source of shame or fear.
Mindfulness & Emotion Regulation: Learning to tolerate financial anxiety without reacting impulsively.
Therapeutic Support: Trauma-informed therapy, such as EMDR or somatic approaches, can address the root emotional wounds tied to money.

Key Insight:
Money isn’t inherently stressful, but trauma can make it a symbolic battlefield — representing safety, control, identity, and self-worth. Healing the financial relationship often involves addressing the underlying emotional trauma, not just the budget.

Here’s a detailed list of common money-trauma patterns along with practical ways to work through them. I’ll organize it so it’s easy to apply personally or in therapy:

1. Financial Hoarding / Over-Saving

Pattern:

Extreme fear of running out of money.
Reluctance to spend even on necessary items.
Viewing money as the only form of safety.

Trauma Link:

Childhood scarcity, poverty, or unpredictable finances.

Ways to Work Through It:

Budget with Intention: Allocate money for essentials and some “joy spending” to normalize spending.
Gradual Exposure: Start with small, intentional expenditures to retrain emotional responses.
Therapy: Explore underlying scarcity beliefs and reframe money as a tool, not a survival anchor.

2. Impulsive Spending / Retail Therapy

Pattern:

Buying things to cope with anxiety, sadness, or boredom.
Accumulation of unnecessary items or debt.

Trauma Link:

Early emotional neglect, abandonment, or unmet needs leading to self-soothing behaviors.

Ways to Work Through It:

Track Triggers: Note emotional states before spending.
Alternative Coping: Replace spending with healthier self-soothing (journaling, walking, connecting with supportive friends).
Set Boundaries: Use cash-only or spending limits for non-essential purchases.

3. Financial Avoidance

Pattern:

Ignoring bills, bank statements, or budget planning.
Procrastination and anxiety around money discussions.

Trauma Link:

Feeling powerless or unsafe in childhood financial matters.

Ways to Work Through It:

Structured Approach: Schedule a short, consistent time weekly to review finances.
Emotional Check-In: Pair financial tasks with grounding exercises (breathing, mindfulness).
Professional Support: Financial counseling combined with trauma-informed therapy can reduce overwhelm.

4. Debt Accumulation / Gambling

Pattern:

Repeated borrowing or risky financial behaviors despite negative consequences.
Seeking quick fixes for emotional relief or control.

Trauma Link:

Early experiences of instability, lack of control, or inconsistent rewards.

Ways to Work Through It:

Immediate Accountability: Work with a financial coach or trusted partner.
Identify Emotional Drivers: Use journaling to uncover feelings driving risky behaviors.
Therapy for Impulse Control: CBT, DBT, or trauma-informed therapy to build healthy coping.

5. Money-Linked Self-Worth Issues

Pattern:

Self-esteem tied to earning, spending, or saving money.
Shame around financial status, whether high or low.

Trauma Link:

Family messages linking worth to financial success or failure.
Experiences of judgment or criticism around money.

Ways to Work Through It:

Internal Validation: Practice self-compassion independent of finances.
Cognitive Reframing: Challenge “I am my money” thoughts with evidence of intrinsic value.
Affirmations & Gratitude: Focus on non-financial achievements and relationships.

6. Intergenerational Money Anxiety

Pattern:

Fear or distrust of money inherited from family beliefs (e.g., “rich people are greedy”).
Repeating parents’ money mistakes unconsciously.

Trauma Link:

Historical family poverty, war, or financial instability.

Ways to Work Through It:

Awareness: Identify inherited beliefs versus personal values.
Create New Patterns: Intentionally practice healthy financial habits.
Ritual or Symbolic Acts: Writing letters to ancestors or creating “financial affirmations” can reframe inherited trauma.

7. Avoiding Financial Conversations

Pattern:

Fear of discussing money with partners, family, or advisors.
Leads to secrecy, conflict, or passive financial patterns.

Trauma Link:

Childhood experiences where money talk caused conflict or shame.

Ways to Work Through It:

Safe Communication Practice: Start with neutral topics or shared goals.
Therapeutic Coaching: Practice assertive financial communication in therapy.
Joint Planning: Use tools or systems to make money discussions objective rather than emotional.

Key Insight:
All of these patterns are adaptive responses to past trauma. Healing involves awareness, emotional regulation, gradual exposure, and reframing beliefs about money as a neutral tool rather than a threat or measure of worth.

Shervan K Shahhian

How Does Psychosomatic Illness develops:

Psychosomatic illness develops when psychological stress or emotional conflict leads to real physical symptoms or worsens an existing medical condition. It’s not “imagined” — the body truly reacts to mental and emotional strain through biological pathways.

Here’s how it typically develops step-by-step:

1. Emotional or Psychological Stress

A person experiences ongoing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, or unresolved emotional conflict.

Examples: grief, work pressure, relationship problems, guilt, fear.

2. Activation of the Stress Response

The fight-or-flight system (sympathetic nervous system) becomes chronically activated.

The brain (especially the hypothalamus) signals the adrenal glands to release stress hormones — mainly adrenaline and cortisol.

3. Physical Changes in the Body

These hormones affect many body systems:

Cardiovascular: increased heart rate, blood pressure.
Digestive: reduced digestion, stomach acid imbalance.
Immune: suppressed or overactive immune response.
Muscular: tension, pain.

If stress persists, these changes stop being temporary — they start to damage tissues or organs.

4. Symptom Formation

Over time, this leads to physical symptoms such as:

Headaches, migraines
Stomach ulcers or irritable bowel
Chest pain, palpitations
Chronic fatigue, muscle pain
Skin rashes, eczema
Hypertension

The symptoms are real but are triggered or worsened by psychological factors.

5. Reinforcement Cycle

The physical symptoms cause more worry and stress, which further increases physiological arousal — creating a vicious cycle of mind–body interaction.

6. Chronic Condition or Disorder

Without addressing the psychological roots (through therapy, stress management, or emotional processing), the symptoms can become chronic and difficult to treat medically alone.

Shervan K Shahhian

Reality-Based Forecasting, what is it:

Reality-Based Forecasting is a way of anticipating the future by grounding your predictions in what’s actually happening, not wishful thinking, fear-driven assumptions, or old survival patterns.

Think of it as: “Given the evidence I have right now, what is most likely to occur?”

Core idea

Instead of asking “What do I fear might happen?” or “What do I hope will happen?”, you ask:

“What usually happens in situations like this, and what data do I actually have?”

Key elements

Current evidence – observable facts, patterns, behaviors, timelines
Base rates – how often things typically turn out a certain way
Past patterns – this person/system’s actual history, not your projections
Constraints – time, resources, power dynamics, incentives
Probabilities, not certainties – multiple likely outcomes, not just one

What it corrects for

Reality-based forecasting counteracts:

Catastrophizing
Magical thinking / optimism bias
Trauma-based expectation (“it always goes wrong”)
Identity-threat distortions (“this means something about me”)

This is especially relevant when the nervous system is activated, because the brain will otherwise fill in the future using threat templates.

Simple example

Emotion-based forecast:

“If I speak up, I’ll be rejected.”

Reality-based forecast:

“In the past, when I’ve spoken calmly, most people responded neutrally or thoughtfully. There’s a small chance of pushback, but rejection hasn’t been the norm.”

Clinical / applied uses

Anxiety & anticipatory anxiety
Trauma recovery (updating outdated threat models)
Decision-making under stress
Boundary setting
Risk assessment without fear dominance

A quick 3-step check

What facts do I have, not interpretations?
What usually happens in comparable situations?
What are 2–3 plausible outcomes, and their likelihoods? Shervan K Shahhian