About this Event
On December 16th, we present : "Why We Overreact: How Early Emotional Lessons Shape Adult Reactions" by Denis Lim.
Expect a thought-provoking evening exploring why seemingly small moments can trigger such big reactions — and how the emotional lessons we learn growing up shape the way we respond as adults.
Why can being cut off in traffic, receiving criticism, or feeling ignored make us so angry? Why do some of us struggle to express sadness or vulnerability, while anger feels much easier to show?
Our emotional responses don't develop in isolation. They're shaped by our early relationships, family environments, and the social expectations we grow up with.
In this fascinating lecture, Denis Lim explores how childhood experiences shape our emotional regulation in adulthood. Using familiar examples like road rage, he'll examine how we learn which feelings are acceptable to express, the influence of attachment and family dynamics, and why masculinity and gender expectations can make anger one of the few socially acceptable outlets for vulnerability.
When a feeling isn't allowed to come out directly, where does it go? And how much of the way we react today was learned long before we realized it?
💡 About the wonderful Denis Lim
Denis Lim is a Professor in the Addictions and Mental Health programs at Humber College and a PhD candidate in Policy Studies at Toronto Metropolitan University.
His doctoral research examines Canadian drug policy and harm reduction, particularly the rollback of services in Ontario. Before entering academia, he spent 10 years working in frontline social services across shelters, outreach programs, transitional housing, and community health centres.
Join us for an evening exploring the emotional lessons we carry into adulthood — and what our strongest reactions might reveal about us.
📅 Date: December 16, 2026
🕡 Time: 6:30 – 8:30 PM
📍 Location: Civil Works
🎤 Speaker: Denis Lim
🎟 Seats are limited!
Event venue & nearby stays
Civil Works, 50 Brant Street, Toronto, Canada
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