230.From Dissonance to Dialogue: The Psychology of Connection in Challenging Times with Shahrzad Jalali

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What if the way we handle conflict and division could actually heal our fractured world – starting with healing ourselves?

In our increasingly polarized times, we're all feeling the weight of division – whether it's global tensions, political discord, or conflicts closer to home. But what if the key to bridging these divides isn't found in changing others, but in understanding the deep psychological forces that drive us apart?

In this deeply personal and universally relevant episode of Health Bite, Dr. Adrienne Youdim sits down with psychotherapist and author Shahrzad Jalali to explore what lies beneath our current climate of division and how we can remain grounded, connected, and well in turbulent times.

Who is Shahrzad Jalali?

• Licensed psychotherapist with over a decade of clinical experience
• Author of the upcoming book "The Fire That Makes Us" (releasing September 9,2025)
• Iranian-American who brings both personal and professional insight to understanding identity, trauma, and healing
• Specialist in somatic therapy and intergenerational trauma work

What You'll Discover in This Episode:

• How fear and uncertainty prime our brains to see the world in dangerous binaries (ally vs. enemy, safe vs. dangerous)
• The neurobiological roots of tribal thinking and why group belonging equals survival in our nervous systems
• How to distinguish between your personal trauma and inherited intergenerational wounds

Why This Episode Matters: 

Whether you're dealing with family tensions, workplace conflicts, or feeling overwhelmed by world events, this conversation offers a path forward that starts with inner work. Dr. Jalali shows us how personal healing and collective healing are interconnected – and how each of us taking responsibility for our own regulation can create ripple effects of positive change.

This episode will help you:

• Understand why you feel so activated by certain conflicts and how to create space before reacting
• Navigate conversations with people who hold opposing views without losing your center
• Break free from the "us versus them" mentality that keeps us stuck in cycles of division

Connect with Shahrzad Jalali:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignremedy/ 
• Website 1: https://www.drjalaliandassociates.com/ 
• Webiste 2: https://alignremedy.com/ 
• Book: "The Fire That Makes Us" (releases September 9, 2025 )https://www.amazon.com/Fire-that-Makes-Unveiling-Transformative/dp/B0DWYN5TFM 
• Emotion regulation courses and online offerings coming soon

3 Ways that Dr. Adrienne Youdim Can Support You

1. Subscribe to Dr. Adrienne's weekly newsletter https://www.dradrienneyoudim.com/newsletter
2. Connect on Instagram : Follow @dradrienneyoudim for tips and inspiration on well-being and peak performance.
3. Come back next week — Every episode of Health Bite explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual hungers that drive us, and delivers the essential “nutrients” you need to thrive.