About Brain Rewiring

Experts in neuroplasticity compare the limbic system to an alarm system. When activated, it responds by flooding the body with cortisol, norepinephrine, and adrenaline. This better equips us to respond to danger… especially if we need to run away or defend ourselves. But when your brain is overwhelmed by major traumas and/or long-term stress, it may become locked into believing it must work even harder to protect you from danger, even when there is none. This state of over-vigilance — and the continuing flood of agitating chemicals that go with it — can cause a variety of problems. These include mental or emotional illnesses, very real manifestations of physical symptoms, and significant spiritual challenges.

But there is good news! Brains that become wired to over-react to perceived threats CAN be rewired. Properly applied principles of neuroplasticity can turn fear into peace, despair into joy, and illness into health. The other good news is that every science-based tool used in this process is deeply rooted in the basic teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our bodies — including our brains — were made in the image of God, with the built-in ability to heal! We just need to learn some specific tools for aligning our thoughts, words, emotions, intentions, and actions with this gift. Combine that alignment with faith in a loving God’s desire for our wholeness and happiness…and Christ-centered brain rewiring is ours.

For more details about neuroplasticity, check out our “Additional Resources” page.

“Be transformed by the renewing of your minds…” Romans 12:2

Although much of the medical world has not yet figured this out (we’ll discuss possible reasons why later), limbic brain issues can cause or greatly contribute to a long list of ailments and conditions that plague millions. Besides the obvious ones such as PTSD, panic attacks, chronic anxiety and depression, that list also includes the following:

• OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder)
• MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome)
• POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)
• ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome)
• EHS (electromagnetic hypersensitivity) which is the body overreacting to EMFs (electromagnetic fields)
• PDP (Parkinson’s disease psychosis)
• CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome)
• fibromyalgia
• hypersensitivities to certain smells, chemicals, plants, herbs, fabric/materials, medications, and foods/spices
• hypersensitivity to stimuli such as sounds, light, emotions, temperature extremes or temperature changes, physical or emotional pain, touch, stress, being startled, etc.
• tingling, numbness, pain, or paralysis in the limbs and extremities
• chronic neck and back pain
• chronic facial or dental pain
• migraines
• vocal cord dysfunction
• difficulty breathing and/or swallowing
• brain fog, disorientation, difficulty concentrating
• dizziness, balance issues, vertigo
• mood disorders, emotional dysregulation, paranoia, despondency, eating disorders, behavior issues, etc.
• unreasonable fears and phobias
• memory issues
• chronic fatigue of all kinds
• insomnia
• changes to the libido
• endocrine issues and hormonal imbalances
• gut/digestive issues and stomach pain, pelvic pain syndromes
• cardiovascular issues
• frequent urination, including interstitial cystitis, painful bowel syndrome
• substance abuse or dependence
• rashes, hives, skin issues
• tinnitus, tensor tympany spasms
• seizures, convulsions, tremors, muscle twitches, movement disorders
• susceptibility to frequent infections and illnesses
• seeming inability to recover from illness or injury, or emotional setbacks

It is readily apparent that there could be a myriad of other reasons that any of the above might be happening to someone. Certainly, it makes sense that those other possible causes ought to be investigated and addressed – to a point. The difficulty here is that all too often that investigative process, which can include prolonged and expensive tests and treatments that often just boil down to experimental stabs in the dark, can make things much worse. If you and/or your health care provider(s) are willing to consider that a limbic brain issue might be part of what is wrong (if not completely to blame), please don’t put exploring and addressing that possibility at the bottom of the “to do” list. (More about the processes for doing so will be shared later.)

Unless you have a good reason to suspect a fracture, a tumor, an infection, or a SIGNIFICANT structural problem, you’re probably much better off addressing a potential limbic system trauma loop (or what some might call a mind/body connection, or a neuro-circuit disorder) first… or at least concurrently. For example, when it comes to back and neck pain, the fact is most spinal “abnormalities” or anomalies that might turn up in an x-ray or MRI are often really not that big of a deal. The majority of adults develop such things as a natural part of aging and never experience any related symptoms. (Research done by Dr. Howard Schubiner and others back this up.) Often it is the fear of something being wrong that causes your brain to try to convince you that something truly horrible is wrong by giving you signals of big-time pain that don’t really equate with any actual physical issue.

One of the real dangers here is that anyone who has had personal experience with anything on that above list may find themselves offended by the implication that some or all of their suffering may be connected to limbic brain issues. This is perfectly understandable, since the limbic system is all about what is happening in your brain, and your brain is in your head. A logical line of reasoning might tell you that connecting your illnesses, symptoms, pain, etc. to an issue “in your head” implies that it isn’t real, or that you’re somehow making it up. After all, far too many patients have been dismissed by doctors who can’t figure out what is wrong, and therefore been sent on their way with a pronouncement of “It’s all in your head.” I love the scene near the end of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows where Harry is conversing with Dumbledore in what appears to be an ethereal re-creation of King’s Cross station: “Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?” Dumbledore replies, “Of course it’s happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

On one hand, it has to be pretty tough for any health care professional to admit they don’t know what is wrong or how to help relieve the suffering. Saying the words is like admitting failure. No fun for anyone. But the fact is, medical students don’t learn about this stuff in medical school, where the emphasis is on treating symptoms with pharmaceuticals. Because limbic system dysregulation can’t be measured in a lab or fixed with a drug, it is simply not on the radar of the medical establishment, and therefore not on the class schedule. So even though I’ve had some pretty big reasons to be very angry about how a large number of allopathic physicians failed to help me (and in many cases were actually to blame for my issues), they are all just products of their incomplete and rather narrow educational experiences, and generally not to blame. Truly, most are doing the best they can with what they’ve got. And we don’t exactly have digital readouts in our foreheads that give any real aid in the diagnostic processes. (Wouldn’t that be nice!?)

On the other hand, since your brain IS in your head, and your brain is actually HQ for all pain and physical sensations you experience anywhere in your body, when causes of chronic or mysterious conditions are elusive, there is a certain level of truth to the statement, “It’s all in your head.” Your symptoms are evidence that your brain and all the elements of your alarm system are working according to design. They are just overdoing it big time because a reset is needed but hasn’t happened. (And that is no one’s fault.)

Your brain is convinced you’re in serious danger… so it is simply doing its job by trying WAY TOO HARD to protect you the best way it knows how. We just have to get over the implication that a brain overreaction is a failure or weakness on our part, or that it implies in any way that the symptoms are not real. (Dr. Howard Schubiner’s series of animated videos on pain explain all of this brilliantly. Start with #1- “What is Pain?”) Accepting the possibility that your symptoms might have their roots in your brain and limbic system – regardless of official labels the medical establishment has taught you to wear and forever endure – ought to be seen as freeing and empowering as opposed to accusatory. What a relief that you don’t have to keep serving as a lab rat in ongoing experiments that will likely never make your problems go away! You now have an opportunity to take control of the situation by learning what YOU can do to bring about the healing you’ve been searching for. Knowledge is power, and in this case, it is power to bring an end to suffering. What a gift!

The best way to determine if limbic system impairment or dysfunction is behind your symptoms is to look for patterns. When are the symptoms the most pronounced, and/or do they ever decrease or completely go away? (This happened to me once when my brain had to focus on pulling off a special event that I was in charge of… but I didn’t understand how or why at the time.) Your detective work might include considering the time of the day, week, month, or year that you feel the best and the worst. (Increased suffering on trauma anniversaries is a real thing, by the way. Your body remembers even if you don’t.) Did your problems begin after a significant life event, injury, or illness… even though the injury itself healed? Do the things that cause significant stress or emotional pain in your life affect your symptoms? Do your symptoms or pains change location in your body, have inconsistent or illogical duration, or does the intensity shift suddenly for no apparent reason? (Learn more about this “symptom imperative” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvXaejdH0YU and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4bkpRLjTQ.)

Dr. Schubiner and company have done us the favor of bringing another indicator to light, and it is a big one. Certain kinds of personalities do have a propensity to fall victim to ailments that stem from limbic system dysregulation. In his observations (and the observations of other medical professionals working in the trenches of treating chronic pain and illness), you are much more likely to develop a limbic brain injury if you: A) are a chronic people-pleaser, B) tend toward perfectionism, C) tend to spread yourself too thin, D) are an over-achiever, E) take on too much blame or responsibility, F) measure your self-worth too much by what you accomplish and do for others, and/or G) bury or deny your feelings. Ouch, right? Unfortunately, those words often describe people of faith, especially if they have been busy trying to do all the right things for the wrong reasons, or they have a conscious or unconscious belief that reasonable self-care is selfish.

Asking yourself these questions and answering them honestly (easier said than done) might deliver an instant epiphany, or it may take a long time for patterns to emerge. You may need a professional to walk you through digging up some things in your past that are uncomfortable to look at and examine, and THEN to cope with. And… you may come to some realizations that have the potential to bring you some additional emotional pain.

However, if and when you see convincing evidence that limbic system issues are likely to blame for your suffering, the overriding emotion should be relief! Not only is there more hope for a real cure than the medical world has traditionally been able to offer people like you… you can rejoice in the fact that it is not going to take you spending thousands of dollars on medical appointments, continuing tests, drugs, or surgeries to make things better.

The good news is that you are now empowered to take control of your own health and orchestrate the healing process! This can initially feel like bad news to some, as so many of us are conditioned to want instant solutions via a pill or procedure. We want others to “fix” our problems (or poor health choices) with something that requires very little effort on our part. If you can get past that hurdle, you’re halfway home.

If you’re trying to figure out if you are dealing with issues that may have their roots in your limbic system, these assessments may be of some use:

• DNRS Self Assessment Survey
• Do You Have TMS / Perceived Danger Pain?

And once again, we refer you to the long list of additional resources available here on the website. Seek out the testimonials. Thousands upon thousands of seriously ill people have found full recovery in brain rewiring… too many to ignore.

Once I made the decision to make our music free to listen to online (though also available for purchase), it became apparent that some education about brain rewiring needed to be part of the package. If all of this is new to you, it can be confusing and overwhelming. I hope the following information helps.

Though there is no “one size fits all” approach, experts agree there are many elements that are usually part of a safe and successful brain-rewiring experience, including:

• Developing a new mindset about yourself and your empowerment for healing and change based on new understanding of the science;
• Changing the way you use your thoughts, words, intentions, actions, and emotions in your daily life and interactions;
• Changing the way you talk to yourself and about yourself by no longer identifying yourself as defined by your illness or challenges;
• Altering avoidance behaviors that reinforce fears;
• Implementing a plan to carefully and gradually reintroduce safe and healthy activities and/or substances previously perceived as dangerous;
• Finding ways to improve self-care health practices;
• Learning how to safely and effectively process and release emotional blockages and false core beliefs;
• Forgiving yourself and others as needed;
• Letting go of habits that get in your way and adopting new habits that support your change;
• Making and maintaining human connections that reinforce your rewiring journey;
• MAKING INTENTIONAL USE OF GOOD MUSIC, talks, movies, books, podcasts, testimonials.

As you can see, this list of important brain-rewiring elements is long, but if any single important aspect is forgotten or neglected, it may slow down progress and possibly derail the whole thing. However, many people who simply read Dr. John Sarno’s books or attended his classes reported that their pain actually went away once they understood it was purely a MindBody connection (sometimes called TMS, or Tension Myositis Syndrome). Discovering that nothing was physically wrong was enough. These cases are rare, but illustrate that everyone’s path is different.

Finally, and most importantly… all good brain-rewiring programs have some kind of original script/outline for a meditative practice that is at the core of what they do. The structure of these rounds / meditations / sessions follows a basic pattern that has been proven to be highly effective, and which is based on solid brain science. (… as well as the behaviors and mindsets inherent in living a Christ-centered life!)

Implementation of these repeated meditative practices (usually about an hour a day is recommended) is then supplemented by ongoing emotional support and education about brain science and the convoluted healing process. It is important to recognize how our nervous systems often get very creative in trying to bypass our efforts to rewire! Just like what can happen in the treatment of many physical or emotional disorders, things may get worse before they get better.

It is easy to develop an adversarial relationship with your nervous system when this happens. Behaving and thinking as if rewiring is a battle that pits you against yourself is a recipe for failure. (“Avast There, Brain” addresses this issue.) Staying friends with your limbic system becomes especially challenging in light of the way a hyper-vigilent brain REALLY wants to protect you at all costs, and will basically “make stuff up” in an attempt to keep you safe.

Don’t believe your brain can lie to you in powerful ways? Check out the “Rubber Arm Experiment.” So be prepared. (Brea Katrin, Howard Schubiner, and Dan Buglio of Pain Free You also have wonderful enlightenment on this subject. See the “Additional Resources” page for more information on these folks and links to their material.)

Navigating this very challenging non-linear healing process is much easier to manage when you understand what is happening and why. (The upcoming song “Never A Straight Shot” is about this issue.) Armed with the right tools, it is possible to adapt the mentality of a “curious observer” and not get thrown off course. The bottom line here is that you’ll have a much easier time of it if you have a coach, support group, supported program, or at least a source of loving encouragement and correct information to keep you on track.

Faith Squared is not in a position to offer all of that yet, but it IS a goal for the future. Stay tuned! (I welcome emails on the subject!) In the meantime if you choose to purchase and participate in a program (such as the ones highlighted on our Additional Resources page), there are some important things to look for and understand. Allow me to outline those requisites here.

A good brain-rewiring program should:

• Teach you how to utilize specific intentions, knowledge, and preparation within the structure provided;
• Make controlled deep breathing a major part of the experience;
• Have you speak the prescribed words out loud to yourself with growing intention and emotion that builds on your overall effort and purpose (neuro-linguistic programming or NLP);
• Use smiling, gestures/actions, and body positions and physical locations to reinforce and further install the messages the script delivers (an important element of cognitive behavior therapy or CBT);
• Make excellent use of the five senses to deepen and reinforce the experience. This can include nature sounds and uplifting music (such as those listed on our Additional Resources page) along with physically and visually soothing environments and/or artwork/images that support your script. It should also include actual or vividly imagined smells, sights, sounds, tastes, and sensations of touch that align well with your spoken words and visualizations.
• Follow an outline that:
  1. Begins sessions with a recognition of triggering events, symptoms, or thinking patterns as simply limbic system overreactions;
  2. Provides clear redirection that interrupts or breaks that negative cycle;
  3. Addresses challenges as now existing in (or receding into) the past;
  4. Includes sincerely thanking your limbic system, a.k.a. your brain, a.k.a. your alert system, a.k.a. your over-reactive inner scared toddler for trying so hard to keep you safe;
  5. Provides reassurance that such efforts are no longer required, and that things are being done differently now and going forward;
  6. Describes your new state of being as completely in line with health, wholeness, & happiness;
  7. Summons JOY! Really FEELING that emotion is EVERYTHING! There are several different takes on how to do this. I’ll give you a few of my favorite options here:
     • Use your words to personally narrate a very detailed description within a visualization of something wonderful that happened in your past and/or that you hope will happen in the future. Speak as if it is happening now. As you improve in your skills with this practice, you will be able to feel real joy in the very moment you describe it.
     • Dance, SING, walk, do a creative art project, or find release and wholeness in any enjoyable and safe physical activity (so long as it is not stressful in any way).
     • You can recite scripture, hymn/song lyrics, poetry, etc. that aligns with your intentions and provides focus on optimism, hope, and a brighter future. (The songs and affirmations provided on this website are perfect for this!)
     • List things you are grateful for and express that gratitude with great exuberance!
     • Visualize yourself completely whole, happy, and healthy, doing things you love with people you love.
     • Visualize yourself with the Savior! What would you say to each other, in complete love and acceptance, if you had a chance for a face-to-face meeting? Live that experience in your mind and with your words… and watch what happens.
     • Visualize things like joyously meeting loved ones on the other side, being on earth during the millennium and perhaps playfully interacting with a gentle tiger (one of my favorites), flying over the mountains or deep-sea diving. You are only limited by your imagination. (Some visualization recommendations focus on new cars, financial success, social events, etc. Those aren’t really bad things, but they can’t bring the kind of joy more spiritual visualizations will provide.)

I had many profound spiritual experiences summoning joy in my daily brain-rewiring practices. It became the high point of my days! Beginning and ending each round with a sincere prayer of gratitude was a big part of that, and I know it was all central to my healing.

In the midst of my most significant rewiring practices and joy summoning, I had some inexplicable Law of Attraction moments (or God Winks, if you will… also the title of a future song) that I marvel at to this day. Then as time went on, symptoms gradually decreased and eventually disappeared, I felt happier, slept better, functioned better physically and emotionally, and felt real hope and optimism grow inside me every day. Focused effort on a daily rewiring practice is the ultimate game-changer for thousands, maybe millions at this point. I’m so grateful to be one of those people.

Be advised, however, that it is normal to hit plateaus, gain and lose ground repeatedly, and get discouraged or bored. Because I’d heard of folks who felt they were completely healed after months or even weeks, I let myself get angry that it was taking me so much longer than I thought it should. And I fell into a trap of thinking that some of my ailments were beyond the scope of brain rewiring’s capacity to fix. I was wrong about all of that, and it greatly slowed me down. If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be to expect the roadblocks and detours… and view them as opportunities to be strengthened and taught.

So, if you choose this path, and things don’t go as smoothly or quickly as you hope, I encourage you to hang in there! Though you don’t ever want to force things in a way that makes them counterproductive,there are ways around the discouragement. Implement variety in what you do by shaking things up now and then, using prayer to guide you. Take short breaks if you must, but then get back to it ASAP. Your brain will want to return to old patterns and habits. Don’t let it! Stay the course! YOU CAN DO THIS! Never forget that God doesn’t want you to continue to suffer. He WANTS to help you heal.

We are happy to offer Faith Squared Music as part of your commitment as you continue along your journey.

Never forget that God doesn’t want you to continue to suffer. He WANTS to help you heal. But if healing is delayed for any reason, He can help you endure it by lightening your burdens, giving you learning opportunities, and helping you grow your gratitude in the recognition of tender mercies. If you allow the experience to bring you closer to Him…by daily inviting Him to be part of the process, it will change everything. And if you can’t find or feel that connection for a while… it doesn’t mean He isn’t there. Remember that even Jesus has His experience wondering why His Father had forsaken Him, and none of us can claim to be above anything He went through. It won’t last forever, even it if sometimes feels like it. Thousands of others have found healing with brain rewiring. You will too!