Srini Pillay, M.D.

09/01/2025

Social anxiety isn’t just about being shy — it’s about feeling trapped in thought patterns that keep you from connecting authentically.

Rewiring your brain takes time and practice, but small shifts in perspective can make a big difference:
✔ You’re not the only one with secrets.
✔ You’re more similar to others than you think.
✔ Courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s what you choose to focus on.

Discover practical strategies to move from discomfort to connection: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/debunking-myths-the-mind/201009/understanding-the-discomfort-social-anxiety

Things to Remember When Socially Anxious

09/01/2025

Change isn’t just hard because of time, money, or effort. Beneath the surface, unconscious fears, hidden guilt, and brain biases quietly tether us to the familiar — even when it hurts us.

Research shows the #1 regret of the dying: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.”

This article explores the psychology and neuroscience of why we stay stuck — and how to get unstuck.
👉 Read more and subscribe: https://drsrinipillay.substack.com/p/week-43-beyond-switch-cost-how-the

The hidden biases, unconscious fears, and closed temperaments that keep you from making meaningful choices — and what to do about them.

08/29/2025

For everything that you want in life, a disaster anticipation often wants to take root in the mind.

You get up, it is Monday morning, and the world feels like it is going to fall apart. Here are some tips to deal with anticipatory :

http://ow.ly/TeoX308XY1c

How to deal with Monday morning dread.

08/28/2025

Trauma can leave us feeling fragmented, cut off from our past, present, and future selves. But new brain research shows there are ways to rebuild a coherent sense of self.

From mindful walking to “possibility thinking,” practices that engage the brain’s unfocus network can support healing, resilience, and wholeness.

If you’ve experienced personal trauma, or want to better understand the neuroscience of recovery, this article offers powerful insights: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/debunking-myths-of-the-mind/201706/how-to-start-healing-after-personal-trauma

Do you feel too fragmented after a traumatic event? A few lifestyle adjustments can help you feel whole again.

08/28/2025

Ever wonder how your unconscious mind shapes your everyday choices?
On the latest episode of the Stellar Success Podcast, I sat down with Dr. Tudor Francu to explore how neuroscience, mindset, flow states, and courage fuel elite performance.

We dive into how the hidden forces of the brain drive motivation, creativity, and resilience—and how you can unlock that untapped potential within.

🎧 Listen now https://linktr.ee/drsrinipillay?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaejsM6vlMq2Hcg5urItS9A5D68xjKDLuZTec8CalxLPWrDnUcFc1AWcn1HQGg_aem_VReopVWNjzwKCRGkGUa97g Your next breakthrough may be closer than you think.

08/27/2025

Your body isn’t just following your brain—your movement can also change your mind. 🧠➡️💪
Research shows that regular exercise reduces anxiety and depression, meditative movement like yoga and tai chi eases trauma symptoms, and even synchronizing movements with others can boost self-esteem.
Explore the science, find out more: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-simply-moving-benefits-your-mental-health-201603289350

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08/27/2025

What if the real key to joy isn’t what you get—but what you give?

Jon Batiste hints at something deeper: science shows generosity lights up the brain’s empathy and reward centers—unlocking a sense of happiness no material possession can match.

It’s not just money. It’s your time. Your creativity. Your kindness. Your heart.
And when you give, you don’t just change someone else’s life—you transform your own.

So here’s the question: what’s the most powerful part of yourself you’re ready to give?

Catch the full breakdown in my article—link in my LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/drsrinipillay?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeW_sQtEikM5QOHIJYwfWfmCMY_H2OOI1WP-xwgtjnwLY80Q9EUbi7gb7zJbg_aem_ZT306A2kPg81ZmTk0_DIkw

08/26/2025

Getting what you want isn’t just about hard work or positive thinking. Neuroscience shows that unconscious intention, emotion, and even fear play powerful roles in shaping outcomes.

✨ Key insight: Happiness isn’t the result of success—it’s the fuel that frees your brain to work at its best.

By leading with happiness, practicing mindfulness, and letting go of desperate striving, you create the mental space for your goals to take root. https://buff.ly/PGhhlE4

Strive for happiness without tying it into getting the things you want. Lead with happiness. If you do this, you will free up your brain to do its work. How can you do this?

08/26/2025

When you're depressed, your brain can distort how you see yourself, making you feel worthless, incapable, or unlovable. Research shows this comes from disrupted coordination between brain regions responsible for self-appraisal and emotional control.

The good news? Treatments like self-system therapy (SST) can restore balance, helping you shift from negative self-impressions to growth-oriented goals.

💡 Depression isn’t a weakness—it’s a brain state that can be treated. Find out more: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-feel-better-about-yourself-if-you-are-depressed-2018101115022

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08/25/2025

What if your body is screaming what your mind can’t say? 🖤
Psychosomatic symptoms often hide unexpressed emotions—turning pain, tension, or fatigue into messages waiting to be heard. The first step to healing is learning to listen.

Read more in my article—link in my linktree: https://linktr.ee/drsrinipillay?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAafqV8hINPJVBiehNbq2R_L59r3ifdA3gsl_p3FNhh3dWQH-j9PTN-9f3Q6k0Q_aem_sRPyZRhlX0Oia9_ScJgD-g

08/25/2025

Why do we cling to the familiar — even when it harms us? 🤔
Freud called it the death instinct. Neuroscience calls it the brain’s resistance to uncertainty. Together, they explain why we freeze when faced with big changes, and why the familiar can feel safer than growth.

In Week 43 of Recipes for Success, I unpack the biology and psychology of “switch cost” — and offer three practical steps to break free from inertia.

👉 Read more and subscribe for weekly insights: Recipes for Success
https://drsrinipillay.substack.com/p/week-43-why-we-cling-to-the-familiar

08/22/2025

Ever noticed how the very thing you fear most often finds its way to you? 🤯

This isn’t just bad luck — it’s the brain’s “ironic process theory” at work. When under stress, the unconscious shifts from preventing mistakes to seeking them out, priming us to live our fears.

The good news? With practice, you can retrain your mind to focus on desired outcomes instead of dreaded ones.

👉 Read more: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-irony-of-being-human_b_261542

Have you ever noticed how the very thing that you most fear often comes your way? Why would this be, when we seem to do all that we can to avoid these things?