mirrah · essays
the space between
what your body is doing before your mind catches up.
Why Anxiety Feels Like Excitement (Same Body, Different Story)
Your pounding heart, tight chest, and racing thoughts are the same signal whether you're anxious or excited. Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett explains why — and how to change which one wins.
Does Naming Your Emotions Actually Work? What the Neuroscience Actually Says
Affect labeling — putting a precise word on a feeling — forces your amygdala to quiet so your language centers can run. Here's the mechanism, the limits, and the right order.
Why Loneliness Feels Physical — and Why Scrolling Never Fixes It
Dr. Kay Tye found dedicated "loneliness neurons" in the brain that fire like hunger neurons. Here's why social media can't satisfy them — and what actually does.
Why Am I So Emotional for No Reason? Your Bad Mood Might Be a Metabolic Accounting Error
Dr. Lisa Feldman Barrett's body budget explains why your 1 AM spiral might be metabolic, not relational. The emotional flu — and how to tell the difference.