@drleewarren: Stop. The things you say to yourself turn into structural changes in your brain. Your brain automates those thoughts and feelings, and then they feed back and convince you they're true. So knock it off. The simplest fix I know is to use your name. When that harsh voice starts up, don't ask, "Why am I like this?" Ask, "What is Lee feeling right now?" Then talk to Lee the way you'd talk to someone you love. Researchers at Michigan State and the University of Michigan tested this with EEG and brain scans. When people thought about painful things using their own name instead of "I," the brain's emotional reaction dropped within seconds. Activity went down in the medial prefrontal cortex, a hub for self-focused thinking. People said they felt less distressed. And the scans showed it took no extra mental effort. David did this in the Psalms. In Psalm 42, verse 11, he talked to himself like a friend: "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God." That's self-brain surgery. Thoughts become things. Call yourself by name, talk to yourself like somebody who loves you, and give yourself a chance to change your mind and change your life. I'm Dr. Lee Warren, hopefully your favorite internet brain surgeon. Clean it up. God bless you. Save this for the next time you need a reminder to be kind to yourself. Share it with someone who needs the tip. And follow me to connect the dots between neuroscience and faith to help you navigate life and find flourishing. Click the link in my bio to learn more about the Ten Commandments of Self-Brain Surgery. #selfbrainsurgery #anxiety #MentalHealth #neuroscience #grit

Dr. Lee Warren | Neurosurgeon

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Wednesday 14 October 2026 23:47:53 GMT