Ever wonder why Christmas feels so magical and joyful? It’s not just in your heart—it’s in your brain too! The holiday season has a way of making everything feel extra special, and there’s actual neuroscience behind it. 

If the holidays are a joyous time of year for you, here’s what’s happening in your brain when you experience that joy:

1. The Reward System: Festive sights and sounds release dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical, making everything feel extra special.
2. Nostalgia & Memories: Christmas traditions activate your hippocampus, linking warm memories to positive emotions.
3. Social Connection: Time with loved ones boosts oxytocin, strengthening trust and connection.
4. Anticipation: Decorating, gift wrapping, and counting down to Christmas creates excitement through dopamine.
5. Sensory Delights: Scents like cinnamon and pine, plus cheerful music, flood your senses with joy.
6. The Spirit of Giving: Giving gifts or helping others activates the reward system, creating fulfillment.

All these elements combine to create a magical sense of joy, connection, and nostalgia during the holidays.

But what if joy doesn’t come easy to you?

When you’ve carried trauma, your brain adapts to expect stress or danger—it’s a survival strategy. Over time, this can rewire your nervous system to feel uncomfortable when life is calm, joyful, or stress-free. It’s not your fault—it’s how your brain learned to protect you. 

Here’s what’s happening:

Your amygdala (the brain’s alarm system) becomes overactive, constantly scanning for threats—even when there aren’t any.

The prefrontal cortex (responsible for rational thinking) has trouble overriding this, making joy or ease feel unsafe or unfamiliar.

Your brain starts associating calm with vulnerability, leading to feelings of “this can’t last” or “I don’t deserve this.”

It’s common for those with trauma histories to feel triggered by peace or joy. If you’ve experienced this, it’s a sign that your nervous system is still wired to protect you, but it can also get in the way of feeling joy and ease.

The good news is that this is something that can be rewired and I’d be honored to support you in creating a plan of action for your brain to feel safe with joy.

We’ll be re-opening doors for Better Expert on January 1st, 2025!

To join the waitlist feel free to CLICK HERE.