Got Scammed? – Here's How to Stop Beating Yourself Up and Bounce Back Fast
- Brainz Magazine
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Heather J. Crider is a high-performance neurocoach on a mission to eradicate self-doubt, fuel resilience, and create limitless freedom. After experiencing several significant emotional experiences, she knew there had to be a better way to live without stress and struggle.
I never thought I'd be the one to fall for a scam. But it happened. I like to think of myself as intelligent, intuitive, and cautious. Yet somehow, these scammers knew enough about my name, address, and small details that made them seem legitimate. Their urgency pushed me to act before I had time to step back and think critically. Before I knew it, I had lost money, wasted time, and spent hours chasing a solution that didn't exist.
When I got home, reality hit me like a brick wall. I felt sick to my stomach. The room started to spin, and my breath became shallow. My mind raced. How could I have let this happen?
The mental spiral was relentless frustration, embarrassment, and exhaustion. My brain replayed every detail, picking apart my decisions. I was caught in what neuroscientists call the "negativity bias," our tendency to dwell on mistakes rather than focus on what we've done right. It's a survival mechanism, but in moments like these, it only deepens the emotional toll.
So, how do you stop beating yourself up after falling for something? How do you move forward without drowning in regret? Here's what helped me:
1. Feel it, then let it go
Instead of fighting my emotions, I let myself feel frustration, disappointment, and sadness. Neuroscience shows that emotions naturally fade within about 90 seconds unless we keep fueling them with our thoughts. I acknowledged them, but I didn't let them define me.
2. Dump it on paper
When I couldn't sleep, I grabbed a notebook and spilled everything onto the page. No overthinking, no worrying about how it sounded, just raw thoughts. Expressive writing has been shown to reduce stress and help the brain make sense of difficult situations, and for me, it helped clear my mind.
3. Flip the script
Instead of dwelling on what I lost, I asked myself: What did I learn? I realized I needed to slow down, verify before trusting, and ask more questions. Research shows that shifting from self-criticism to a learning mindset engages the problem-solving parts of the brain instead of reinforcing stress and fear.
4. Talk to yourself like a friend
If a friend had told me they fell for a scam, I wouldn't shame them, but I'd reassure them. So why was I treating myself differently? I made the choice to forgive myself. One mistake doesn't define me. Studies show that self-compassion helps people bounce back faster and make better decisions in the future.
5. Shift to gratitude
Instead of fixating on what I lost, I focused on what was still in my control: my safety, health, and ability to learn. Gratitude has been proven to rewire the brain, strengthening resilience and improving emotional well-being. It didn't erase what happened, but it helped me move forward.
Moving forward: Trust yourself again
Falling for a scam can shake your confidence. But one mistake doesn't mean you aren't capable of making good decisions. It's a reminder that even the most intelligent people can be misled under the right circumstances. While I wouldn't want to go through it again, I can honestly say I walked away wiser and more aware.
If you've ever been in this situation stuck in self-blame, know this: You are not alone. You are not foolish. And you don't have to stay trapped in regret. Feel it, process it, learn from it, and then let it go. Your future choices will reflect your growth, not your past missteps.
That's resilience.
Have you ever experienced this? What helped you move forward? Let's talk about it. Share your experience.
If you want additional strategies to reframe your mindset or overcome challenges, reach out to me at my website. I’d love to help you move forward.
Heather J. Crider, High-Performance NeuroCoach, Keynote Speaker
Heather J. Crider is a high-performance neuro coach on a mission to eradicate self-doubt, fuel resilience, and create limitless freedom. After experiencing several significant emotional experiences, she knew there had to be a better way to live without stress and struggle. She has dedicated her life to helping others (re)discover greatness by fueling passion and applying practical strategies to 'filter the funk' to retrain and optimize the brain for success. A keynote speaker, host of the Go Reflect Yourself Podcast, and creator of numerous brain-based transformational programs, her mission is to help make the world a more compassionate & mindful place, starting with one thought & one mind at a time.
