Katie Herwig at Lotus Psychotherapy LLC

01/12/2026

01/07/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/183w1fFr1T/

🔷 Addiction Cravings stem from the brain's reward system (dopamine, basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, insula) being hijacked by substances, creating a powerful "wanting" (incentive salience) that overpowers "liking".

🔷 Intense dopamine surges from drugs, food, po*******hy, gambling.. teach the brain to link cues (people, places, moods) to the drug of choice/behavioural addiction , triggering intense craving memories

🔷 This continues for many of us even after lengthy abstinence, involving sensitised neural circuits and impaired executive control that make relapse more likely.

🔷 Addiction rewires the brain’s reward pathways, often driving cravings that overpower logical thinking.

🔷 Understanding this 'hijack' is key to recovery.

🔷 Understanding helps us approach addiction with compassion and knowledge.

Addiction Actually. 2025. All rights reserved.

🔷

12/29/2025

Managing your emotions is a skill that few have, but we all need-myself included! Which suggestion below sparks some interest in you? What will you try to implement in this New Year?

DBTSKills. Emotion Regulation Module..
'' How to Manage Your Emotions'' ..


[book reference : ''1% better everyday'']
https://harvard-fictionkh.com/products/1-better-everyday?variant=52820816101589&fbclid=IwY2xjawO__31leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF1cDlvWUZKbkRqNzN4N001c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgBHCf-aYakbklWJgnGSNcVPLXl1TVyxf3DeuKGhgXldZq0lb8qYNaL-5eT6_aem_QB5cN2cVnqJXffy9RxiXNQ

12/29/2025

Screen time can be very dangerous developmentally for young children…and teens!

This image comes from an MRI study of preschoolers (Hutton et al., JAMA Pediatrics, 2020). It shows how screen use is linked to the wiring of the developing brain.

The top row (blue) highlights where more screen time is tied to weaker white matter organization. White matter is the brain’s wiring system that connects regions so they can work efficiently.

The bottom row (red) shows where heavier screen use is linked to weaker insulation on those connections. Insulation, or myelin, helps brain signals travel quickly, like the protective coating on an electrical wire.

Why does this matter? These highlighted areas include pathways for language, early literacy, and self-regulation. Children with higher screen scores also performed lower on language and literacy tests.

This is not a before and after of one child. It is a group-level finding. The message is clear. In the early years the brain is wiring for life. The more time children spend with people, play, movement, and books, the stronger these foundational circuits become.

11/16/2025

Childhood Shapes Your Future Health

Your body remembers far more than you think. Research shows that the nervous system you developed in childhood continues to shape how your adult body reacts, heals, and responds to stress. Every early experience, whether calm or chaotic, teaches the nervous system how to survive. Those survival patterns then follow you into adulthood.

If you grew up in a peaceful and supportive environment, your nervous system likely learned stability. Your heart rate settles more easily. Your breathing slows more naturally. Your body trusts the world. But if childhood was filled with unpredictability or pressure, the nervous system learned to stay alert. That state can linger for decades, showing up as tension, fatigue, emotional sensitivity, or trouble relaxing.

This does not mean you are broken. It means your body adapted. It protected you with the tools it had at the time. The powerful part is that the nervous system can change. Through gentle habits like deep breathing, exercise, restful sleep, mindful routines, or supportive relationships, the adult body can relearn safety and calm.

Understanding this connection helps people treat themselves with more kindness. Your reactions today often began years ago, shaped by moments you were too young to control. Healing begins when you recognize that your body is not working against you. It is carrying a story. And with time and care, that story can change.

11/10/2025

A surprising new study suggests that constantly trying to please others may come at a hidden cost to your health. People who habitually put others’ needs above their own—chronic people pleasers, may be at higher risk of developing autoimmune diseases, conditions where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body.

Researchers believe the connection lies in chronic stress. Continually suppressing personal needs and emotions can trigger prolonged stress responses, causing inflammation and overactivation of the immune system. Over time, this can increase vulnerability to autoimmune conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or thyroid disorders.

The study highlights a crucial link between mental health, emotional boundaries, and physical wellness. Learning to assert yourself, set boundaries, and prioritise self-care isn’t just about happiness, it’s essential for your immune health. Your body and mind are deeply connected, and ignoring either can have lasting consequences.

11/05/2025

Friends and Family!
You might have seen the Sharing Fridges/Freezers around Salina that the Impact Coalition has donated to help others in need. These Sharing Fridges and Freezers have been a beacon of hope for those in our community who are struggling, along with those who have not received their SNAP benefits.

Saline County statistics highlight the incredible impact we can have:
Population: 53,801
Number of Households: 22,299
Median Household Income: $63,316 (below the state average of $70,333)
ALICE Households: 23% (state average 26%)
Households In Poverty: 15% (state average 12%)

This means that 38% of households In Saline County are either living In poverty or earning less than what’s needed to cover basic living expenses. These families are facing impossible choices, and it’s up to us to make a difference. (Source: KSAL.com)

Some families are having to make the difficult decision to either pay for food or utilities. If you can, please consider donating - every little bit counts, and together we can create a ripple effect of kindness. Nobody should have to go hungry.

Lotus Psychotherapy is sponsoring the newest Sharing Fridge on Albert Ave, and I am taking any donations from people to help keep this fridge stocked for those who need it. I have included my Venmo if you are so inclined to donate. Checks can be mailed to 600 S. Santa Fe, Suite C in Salina, KS, care of Katie Herwig. Please add “Sharing fridge donation” on the memo line.
Let’s come together to make a difference in our community. As the saying goes, “You have not truly lived a day, unless you’ve done something for someone who can never repay you.”

10/28/2025

Clients, friends and family…thank you for all your votes on Salina’s The Best of the Best. I am extremely humbled that a one man show (plus my biller) was able to even make the Top 5 out of all the other wonderful therapy places and individual therapists. Thank you all for your continued support!

10/28/2025

Attention Salina friends! I know the price of food is OUTRAGEOUS and those who receive SNAP benefits are not getting them the month of December. Here are some places that can be of assistance to you, in terms of food. Share away, because nobody deserves to go hungry!

10/28/2025

10/11/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BX76pWPWQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr