Magical Thinking

In this episode of Delusional Optimism, Dr. B speaks on the concept of magical thinking as a phase in childhood, a form of parenting, and a defense and coping mechanism. She explains how it shows up in childhood and adulthood, in terms of both typical development and unhealthy behaviors or thoughts. Dr. B also describes the relationship between magical thinking, anxiety, and OCD.

 

Listen in to learn the neuroscience and optimism behind magical thinking, along with actionable takeaways regarding how you can use empathy to understand it. Dr. B teaches you how planning, along with taking reasonable precautions, can help you manage anxiety and OCD, and describes how to utilize conversation and explanations to manage magical thinking in children.

 

“Trauma in childhood leads to a child needing to try to control things they can’t understand in an abstract world by magically making up their version of the way things work.” - Dr. B [12:46]

 

What You Will Learn:

[0:32] Intro
[1:01] What Magical Thinking is and how it shows up in early childhood and adulthood
[3:20] Why divorce and the death of a parent during childhood is so traumatizing
[5:10] Magical thinking allows people to believe they have way more power and control over situations than they really do.
[8:53] Dr. B’s personal experience with her son’s magical thinking
[15:20] Feeling helplessness regarding Covid-19 and making sense of it
[16:46] The neuroscience and optimism behind magical thinking
[19:46] How anxiety and OCD relates to magical thinking
[22:54] Actionable takeaways from today’s episode: Empathy, planning, reasonable precautions, and explanations
[30:41] An extreme version of magical thinking: Managing the reality of Covid-19
[33:43] Outro

 

Wear a mask and leave a lifeprint!

 

Resources:

Email Dr. B: [email protected]

Visit her website: www.drbconnections.com

Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/dr.bconnections

Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/dr.beasley

This show is published and produced by the team at Truth Work Media. Truth Work Media creates podcasts and develops content for businesses and clients of all sizes. Truth Work Media helps tell your business's story, and brand your message in an engaging way. Check them out at www.truthworkmedia.com