Have you ever known something was bad for you—a relationship, a job, a habit—but kept going back anyway? In this episode, we unpack the hidden psychology and brain science that keep you stuck in cycles you know aren’t serving you. By the end, you’ll not only understand why you cling to what hurts—you’ll leave with practical tools to start loosening that grip.
In this episode, we explore:
The Psychology of Holding On
Sunk Cost Fallacy — why leaving feels like failure instead of freedom
Cognitive Dissonance — the mind’s tricks to justify staying stuck
Region Beta Paradox — why “not bad enough” situations keep you trapped
Intermittent Reinforcement — the most addictive reward schedule in the brain
Nerd Alert- The Neuroscience of Addiction to Pain
Dopamine, prediction error, and why unpredictability feels so intoxicating
Brain regions like the ACC, VTA, and nucleus accumbens that wire you to chase what hurts
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The Inner Work Room Intensive – Enrollment Open
You don’t need more information—you need implementation. This 5-week container takes the neuroscience, psychology, and mindset tools from the podcast and puts them into practice with guided exercises and accountability.
We start October 6th, and spots are limited. If you’re ready for momentum, structure, and real tools to rewire your patterns—this is for you.
Join HERE - your future self will thank you for the work you're doing!
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Be sure to follow my Instagram @briannadiorio for all the Brianna Approved educational content!
You can visit my website www.briannadiorio.com to learn more.
Production Manager and Graphics @kylediorio