Episode 10: Hooked!

How We Get Caught in Thoughts and How to Unhook

We all get caught — in anger, rumination, fear. The key is learning how to unhook gently.

This episode explores how mindfulness and self-observation disrupt automatic cycles of suffering.

Tags: mindfulness, DBT, emotional regulation, thought loops, unhooking

Hashtags: #HookedAndFree #MindfulUnhooking

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🧠 Created by Dr. Jerry Gelbart | © 2025 All rights reserved

How to train your brain.

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✨ Thanks for listening to The Potent Mind.


🎧 Subscribe for weekly insights on mindfulness, neuroplasticity, and conscious living.


🌐 Learn more and access free resources at www.thepotentmind.com


🧠 Created by Dr. Jerry Gelbart | © 2025 All rights reserved

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:01):
We are as effective at stopping an emotion as we are
at preventing a sneeze.
Antonio Damasio We can also seethat there are times when our
perceptions are accurate andemotions justified, but holding
on to the emotion is no longerin our best interest.
When we see that clearly, itthen becomes much easier to let

(00:23):
it go.
Learning how to let go ofemotions that are not useful to
you is a valuable skill.
Not only does that contribute tomore of a sense of calm and
comfort, but it's also becomingmore and more clear in research
studies that constant stresstakes heavy tolls in terms of
depletion of important hormones,cardiovascular disease, our
ability to fight infections, andbrain cells dying.

(00:46):
These are just a few of the waysthat our mind and body interact,
and how strengthening your mindwill also strengthen your body.
I'll teach you several effectivetechniques to change the way you
feel, to let go of negativeemotions when you decide that
that's in your best interest.
Listening to our feelings whenthey're justified is an
important key to findinghappiness, passion, and

(01:07):
fulfillment.
And there are many times when wemay listen to our justified
feelings and file the actionaway for later in order to
obtain a more desirable outcome.
Our programming and biasesinclude what we believe about
our feelings, whether aparticular feeling is good or
bad, or whether we are good orbad, normal or not.

(01:28):
For our intents and purposes,let's just say the feeling is
there, and not add whether it'sgood or bad.
Let's try by looking at ourfeelings without judging them.
You have to strip away yourthinking for now and just get
physical.
Emotions are in the body.
For this segment, thinking willonly get in the way.
As we talk about each feeling oremotional state, keep in mind

(01:51):
that we're trying to describewhat happens in the body, not in
the head.
Feelings are not thoughts,they're physical.
As I describe each feeling andask you to consider what it
feels like to you, if youdescribe what you think, then
you're in your head.
That's not going to help us.
You have to get into your bodyto feel your feelings and to
understand them.

(02:12):
We want to feel them, hear whatthey have to say, and not
intellectualize about them.
If you get into your head,you're back into your
programming and biases andbrainwashing.
This will confuse and distractyou.
Mind gem number 10.
Feelings are in your body, notin your head.

(02:35):
And mind gem number 11.
Don't judge your feelings.