2.Understanding Stress & Conflict in the ED

In this episode, we explore what happens to human behaviour—both patients’ and clinicians’—when placed under stress. Drawing from his own experiences in emergency medicine and fatherhood, Dr. Bassam Nuseibeh walks listeners through the neurological and psychological responses that drive reactions like anxiety, defensiveness, shutdowns, and even aggression.

The episode introduces key insights from conflict strategist and leadership coach Ryan Dunlap, who explains how our brains perceive threats and how we can shift from reactive to responsive behaviour. Bassam applies these principles to the emergency department, where time pressure, uncertainty, and overstimulation can quickly escalate interactions—especially for patients with autism.

Listeners will learn practical tools to understand better and manage stressful encounters, prevent conflict, and recognise the subtle signs of escalating distress. This episode lays the emotional groundwork for later episodes focusing specifically on ASD behaviours by first helping clinicians recognise their patterns and the universal human tendencies that affect us all under pressure.