You might find yourself panicking after a mildly critical email from a coworker, feeling like a total failure when you make a small mistake, or shutting down emotionally when your partner asks for connection. These aren’t overreactions—they’re past reactions, still alive in your nervous system.

You may know something rationally but still feel stuck emotionally. Why? Because different memories are stored in different ways.

Intellectualizing is the habit of staying in the realm of thought as a way to avoid emotions.