Most of life’s stress doesn’t come from what happens outside of us—but from the internal loops we run inside our own minds.

In this episode of the Bite-Sized Brilliance Podcast, Dr. April Darley dives into the hidden power of the thought-emotion loop—the cycle where thoughts trigger emotions, and emotions reinforce thoughts, keeping you stuck in stress.

You’ll learn how to break free from unconscious programming, stop feeding the “fear monster,” and start rewiring your nervous system to see safety, confidence, and opportunity instead.

This episode explores:

If you’ve ever felt powerless to your thoughts or trapped by old beliefs, this episode will show you how to step back into control and design your nervous system for resilience.

To schedule a complimentary consultation: www.aprildarley.com/scheduling-1

To join the waitlist for the upcoming Neuroscience of Stress group coaching program, click here: www.aprildarley.com/group-coaching-waitlist

🕒 Episode Breakdown with Timestamps [

00:00] Introduction + preview of the Neuroscience of Stress group program

[01:00] Internal vs. external stressors explained

[02:30] Why internal stressors matter more than external ones

[04:00] The “ugly truth” about internal stress: you create them

[05:30] Example: being left out → two possible thought-emotion cascades

[08:00] Self-agency, self-efficacy, and breaking cycles of helplessness

[10:00] The nervous system, “window of tolerance,” and reality checks

[12:00] Practical ways to disrupt stress loops (breathwork, movement, tapping, redirection)

[14:00] Creating a positive neurotransmitter cascade

[16:00] Why symptom management isn’t enough—you must rewire at the root

[18:00] Limiting beliefs, discomfort, and retraining your nervous system

[20:00] The truth about transformation: unfamiliar ≠ impossible

[22:00] Closing thoughts + invitation to connect with April