The following conditions commonly respond to brain retraining:

• Post-viral symptoms such as fatigue, pain, dysautonomia (including long COVID)
  

• Chronic pain (pain lasting for three months or longer)
  

• Dysautonomia
  

• Slow digestive motility
  

• Migraines
  

• Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome
  

• Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension
  

• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
  

• Multiple Chemical Sensitivities
  

• Sound sensitivity
  

• Widespread food intolerances
  

• Fibromyalgia
  

• Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis
  

• Electric hypersensitivity syndrome
  

• PTSD
  

• Anxiety
  

• Panic Attacks
  

• Mold Illness/CIRS
  

• Chronic Lyme
  

When the body experiences a very intense stressor, multiple stressors at once, or a high level of stress for an extended period of time, the brain can get stuck in a protective response. The limbic system is the part of the brain responsible for triggering this protective response. The stressor could be physical, mental, emotional, or some combination of the above. A protective response that goes on for too long can negatively impact physiological function and your ability to engage in life. The brain can start misidentifying neutral or safe things as threats. Over time, the brain can get better and better at mounting this threat response. That means it takes less and less to trigger the threat response, and the number of things that trigger the threat response can grow over time. This is an unconscious process, and can happen without any awareness that it’s taking place. Symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and food sensitivities are the brain’s way of alerting us to danger and trying to keep us safe. Your brain is trying to protect you, but it’s gone too far. Thankfully, it is possible to undo the changes in the brain that have lead to these symptoms.

Neuroplasticity is a drug-free approach to changing your brain. The brain is constantly forming new connections when we learn and create new associations, getting rid of old connections we don’t use anymore, and strengthening the connections we use most often. It is possible to become intentional about this process and create new pathways in the brain that re-establish safety and balance in the nervous system, leading to better mental and physical health. The brain has a strong influence over hormone production, immune function, autonomic function (heart rate, vasoconstriction and dilation, breathing, accommodating for position changes without dizziness or fainting), detoxification, and our perception of sensations such as pain and fatigue. When we reestablish safety in the nervous system, these physiological systems normalize. 

A neuroplasticity or “brain retraining” approach involves education to understand how the brain can cause the symptoms you have. You then learn how to give the brain messages of safety through changes in thinking, intentionally and strategically create positive emotional states, make behavioral changes that rebalance the brain, make new associations that help your brain understand that your current triggers are safe, apply cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) specific to limbic imbalance, and re-engage with life in a joyful, authentic, and connected way. There are many possible tools that can be used in the process, and together we will find what works best for you. There are several excellent brain retraining programs available online, such as the Dynamic Neural Retraining System, The Gupta Amygdala Retraining Program, and the Primal Trust Academy and Community. I am not affiliated with any of these programs, but they do an excellent job of teaching the basics of brain retraining. My role as a coach is to support people as they go through these online programs to apply the tools they learn to their specific circumstances and fine tune the approach to get the results they want. If you’re new to the concept of brain retraining, I encourage you to explore these online programs and choose the one that resonates with you most. I am also happy to help people choose a program that’s a good fit for them. If you do not want to do an online program, I am also happy to teach you the ropes one-on-one. I will also be offering in-person group classes to learn how to rewire your brain if you feel like you would learn better that way. Please email me if you would like to be notified about the next group class.

If you see yourself reflected in my story, and/or have or suspect you have any of the diagnoses listed on this page, you might benefit from brain retraining. Unlike many medical therapies, with brain retraining, healing is in your hands. Healing occurs through your own active changes in thought, behavior, and emotional state. If you are open to shifting your understanding of the cause of your symptoms and willing to put in self-directed effort on a daily basis, this could be a great approach for you.