Happy & Healthy with Amy

Notice and Name It: The Brain Science of Putting Feelings Into Words

• Amy Lang • Season 2 • Episode 50

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0:00 | 23:17

Have you ever eaten a bag of chips or a bowl of ice cream even though you want to lose some weight and you weren't physically hungry? Or skipped the walk you planned to take? Or stayed up late scrolling on your phone even though you promised yourself you would go to bed earlier that night?

So why did you give in to the urge and what can you do about it?

In Part 1 of the three-part Name It to Navigate It series, Amy introduces affect labeling—the skill and practice of putting feelings into words. Research suggests that when you name your emotions, activity in the amygdala (your brain’s alarm system) may decrease while your prefrontal cortex and specifically areas involved in language and self-control become more active.

That shift can create something incredibly valuable: a pause between what you feel and what you do next.

Why Naming Emotions Supports Better Health Habits

You may already know that sleep, movement, nutrition, hydration, social connection, and stress management support long-term brain health.

But knowing what to do is not the same as consistently doing it.

An unnamed emotion can drive late-night eating, doomscrolling, sleep procrastination, skipped workouts, social withdrawal, or anxious symptom-checking. 

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • 00:00 — Why you reach for food, skip movement, or scroll late at night
  • 01:15 — The gap between knowing and doing
  • 03:00 — The unnamed emotions behind common unwanted behaviors
  • 05:10 — Why “What’s wrong with me?” is the wrong question
  • 06:00 — What affect labeling actually means
  • 08:20 — The brain science behind naming emotions
  • 10:30 — How two words can create a pause before action
  • 13:20 — What to do when a memory lapse triggers Alzheimer’s fear
  • 16:00 — Why family history and genetics are not the whole story
  • 18:10 — How emotional awareness connects to healthy habits
  • 21:00 — Your next step and what’s coming in Part 2

Listen now and learn how to stop reacting, start responding, and make your brain-health habits more intentional.

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