Arthur W. Davis, LPA

12/19/2025

12/12/2025

Sometimes we drift away from people, sometimes people unexpectedly bump into us.

12/09/2025

Psychic Defenses Initiated by Trauma

1. Shame

Shame forms in environments where love is conditional, mistakes are punished, or the child is blamed for the emotional instability of adults. It is not low self-esteem — it is self-protection. The unconscious logic is simple: “If I punish myself first, others can’t hurt me.” By attacking itself, the psyche tries to control the source of pain. Shame becomes a preemptive strike, reducing conflict and preventing humiliation in a threatening environment. It works as a child because self-attack feels safer than external attack. As an adult, the protection becomes the prison: the danger is gone, but shame keeps shrinking you anyway, blocking connection, opportunity, and vulnerability.

2. Continued in comments

12/03/2025

The fear of the unknown is difficult to manage for many people. It is interesting, however, that we would rather imagine being forced into greatness rather than choosing it ourselves. There's no difference in the character's skills and abilities, just the perception that there's no other choice. If you hope to foster change in your life, it may be helpful to gather evidence for your current skills and abilities. Sometimes we learn we were capable enough to make positive change without training for it. If you learn there's a deficit in the skills, it's a good place to make specific and measurable goals. I hope you are able to make the choice, rather than be forced into, your desired positive change.

12/02/2025

Sleep is one of the strongest regulators of emotional stability, yet it is often the first thing people sacrifice. Neuroscience research shows that even one night of poor sleep can increase activity in the amygdala by up to sixty percent. The amygdala controls emotional reactivity, so when it becomes overactive, the brain responds to small frustrations as if they were major threats. This shift makes emotions feel stronger, faster, and harder to manage. At the same time, the prefrontal cortex responsible for emotional regulation becomes less active, reducing impulse control and thoughtful decision making.

Studies on couples reveal how this directly affects relationships. When people are sleep deprived, they report more frequent arguments, lower patience, and a higher tendency to misinterpret neutral expressions as negative. Research also shows that lack of sleep reduces feelings of trust and emotional closeness. Partners become less empathetic and less attuned to each other’s needs simply because the brain is struggling to stay balanced. This creates unnecessary tension even in healthy relationships.

Sleep is not just recovery for the body. It is emotional maintenance for the brain. Protecting your sleep strengthens your ability to communicate with clarity, respond with compassion, and maintain stronger connections. Investing in rest is one of the most powerful ways to support the health of your mind and your relationships.

12/01/2025

Can't go over it, can't go under it, can't go around it. You have to go through it and grow through it. 🩵



Healing Hearts
Live Love Laugh

11/28/2025

At Legacy Community Development Corporation (Legacy CDC), we serve families across Southeast Texas by providing housing stability services. We offer housing opportunities, education, and supportive services to create stable, self-sufficient families and safer, stronger communities. As a HUD-approved...