EP 15 // The Neuroscience of Political Polarization (and How to Break Free From Us vs. Them Thinking)

Political polarization isn’t just about ideology - it’s deeply tied to our nervous systems. When your brain perceives threat, it slips into survival mode, shutting down critical thinking and pushing you into black-and-white categories: us vs. them, safe vs. unsafe, right vs. wrong. That instinct once kept our ancestors alive, but today it can fuel division by making it harder to see nuance, connect, or think critically. In this episode, I’ll walk you through the neuroscience behind political polarization and explain why every strong opinion is NOT coming from reasoned thought. Often, it’s your primal brain (your limbic system and brainstem) driving the narrative. You’ll learn how to recognize when you’re caught in that survival loop, why your nervous system shapes the way you interpret political conflict, and most importantly, how to shift back into a calmer state that allows for empathy, curiosity, and true critical thinking. Whether politics leaves you stressed, angry, or just confused, this conversation will help you step outside of binary, “us vs. them” thinking - and see how much power you have to change the way you engage. DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 🗓 Join the group coaching waitlist HERE 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET ✨ Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE . 🤝 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE .* (*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com