Using presence, creativity, and joy to heal brain and body

Ever since my Lyme literate medical doctor (LLMD) turned me on to brain retraining techniques back when I was first diagnosed with Lyme disease, I’ve been fascinated by how these mindfulness practices can support healing. Back then, I felt like I had discovered magic. Some techniques worked right away for me, relieving symptoms for several hours at a time.

This past year I had a horrible mold exposure, and I’ve relied heavily on brain retraining techniques to bring me out of fear and back on the road to healing and feeling great. I’ve always needed treatment along with brain techniques to improve my health, though some people seem to heal with brain retraining alone. For me, it’s taken a combination, but brain training is critical. As soon as I put it back into practice after being exposed to mold, it was like a light went on, and my health started to bounce back.

Finding an approach to brain retraining that resonates with you is worthwhile for anyone looking to speed and deepen their healing process. I’ll share some of my favorite techniques here. Some I’ve adopted from pioneers, such as Phil Parker’s work with Lightning Process, Annie Hopper’s Dynamic Neural Retraining, and Joe Dispenza’s writing on changing your personal reality. Some I’ve developed for myself. Used consistently and with commitment, in my experience, they truly help with healing chronic illness. It takes some research and creativity to find what works, but it’s worth it.

Brain retraining to support healing chronic illness, in a nutshell

Healing through brain retraining works from the premise that chronic illness both feeds on and creates patterns of chronic stress. Modern life seems to catalyze stress in an insidious, habit-forming way, unlike what our stress response evolved for as humans. Instead of running from a predator in a discreet moment of fear, in the modern world we can get looped into repetitive, anxious or negative thought patterns that become habitual, and affect our health. Chronic illness both feeds on and exacerbates this.

Brain retraining techniques are intended to interrupt habitual, negative patterns of thinking and feeling, and replace them with intense positive emotion. Consciously creating feelings (and eventually new habits) of relaxation, love, gratitude, pleasure, and joy change the energetic and chemical environment of the body, and enable healing on a cellular level. You’re asked to become mindful of your every thought, to the point that you’re able to interrupt unproductive anxiety or negativity whenever they arise, and replace them with something that feels good.

I think it’s important to note that these aren’t “positive thinking” techniques. They are about true mindfulness, and creating genuine, positive feeling. Practicing brain retraining doesn’t mean you become some kind of inhuman fake new-age monster who only ever admits to feeling Amazing. You still feel every emotion on the spectrum. The difference is not allowing your brain to spiral into sticky habits of negativity – finding your way back to flow and change.

Five brain retraining techniques that I love

• Buddhist observance: emotion is energy in motion

  Brain retraining and Buddhism are intertwined. Having some understanding of Buddhist practice will help anyone with brain retraining, especially with experiencing the wild, daily range of human emotions without getting stuck in looping thought patterns.

  My personal favorite way to observe my own emotions while allowing them to flow is to give them a shape and color while I “watch” them (a recent experience of microdosing psilocybin mushrooms really helped with this). If a powerful emotion comes up, especially if it’s negative and sticky, I “see” it as color and pattern. It’s then easier for me to observe it as it shifts and changes, without giving it power or meaning beyond its energy. What I love about this is how quickly emotions shift and change, if I’m not feeding the fire with a bunch of repetitive thoughts.

• Gratitude

  Going over my blessings really works to interrupt non-productive thoughts and generate feelings of joy. Studies corroborate this; practicing gratitude reduces the stress hormone cortisol and improves mental health.

  It’s amazing how simple and effective this practice feels. Sometimes I speak out loud, and sometimes I use a journal. All the brain retraining pioneers encourage using intense, descriptive, positive language – as more powerful emotions get wired more deeply into memory and neural circuitry.

  I keep practicing gratitude until I feel a warm joy permeating my chest, and my energy feels changed. Sometimes this takes a while, and sometimes it’s really quick. It gets easier to tap into, the more consistently I practice.

• Writing with the non-dominant hand

  This was a suggestion from Annie Hopper. It’s a challenge that shakes up the brain, and makes it necessary to stay present. It’s a great way to practice gratitude, or to explore writing about anything that makes you feel relaxed and joyful. Just like drawing with the non-dominant hand (another great brain retraining tool) it feels to me like it more easily accesses the unconscious. What you write may surprise you.

  Following the principles of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, or NLP, brain retraining teachers ask that you talk or write about what you do want or feel grateful for, and avoid language about what you want to avoid. For example, it’s better for the brain to use language such as “I want to feel relaxed, comfortable, empowered, and alive” than to write “I want to stop feeling sick” – as the second example draws the brain’s attention to the negative feelings associated with the word sick. Using only positive language takes a bit of practice, but it’s a subtly powerful tool.

• Singing

  Really, any creative or artistic practice can bring the brain into flow in the present moment, and can be used to rewire relaxation and joy. Singing has the added benefit of lengthening the exhale, which calms the nervous system. It’s both a breathing meditation and creative expression.

• Guided meditations

  Sometimes, we need a helping hand. Guided meditations give the brain a road map. If you’re tired, if you need some deep rest, guided meditations can be a wonderful source of support for brain retraining. I wrote the meditations on this site initially just to help myself out when I was too exhausted to meditate alone. They worked amazingly for me, and I still use guided meditations when I’m in need.

Acceptance and self-compassion

Allowing ourselves to rest, relax, find our way back to joy, and heal our brains and bodies is a revolutionary act. It shifts the collective energy of our addicted-to-achievement culture toward thoughtfulness and care.

There will be less chronic illness overall when we stand up for and respect our need for rest and repair. This takes self-love, self-acceptance, and self-compassion. In some ways, I feel chronic illness is a Buddhist teacher here to reawaken us to our shared vulnerability.

Be kind to yourself as you heal. Rest when you need rest. Find your true joy. In my experience, brain retraining is a creative, magical way to support this healing path.

Thank you for reading! You are love’s creation,

Shona