Many of us struggle with digestive distress of various types. Acid reflux, GERD, heartburn constipation, diarrhea (such a glamorous subject), bloating, heartburn, SIBO, diverticulitis, Crohn’s disease… the list goes on and on.
Symptoms range from mild discomfort to total debilitation. And the causes are many: food allergies or intolerances, infections, stress, lack of exercise, medications, hormonal changes, intestinal disorders and more. But there’s another “cause” (or at least major influence) that is rarely discussed, and it offers a major opportunity for healing. It’s related to mindset – and not in a “woo woo” way. It’s neuroscience.
I’m using gut health here as an example. But if you suffer from any long-term condition, it’s likely that you have developed a whole story around it. How and when it came about, what a bummer it is, how miserable and frustrated you are, how you’ve tried everything, how you don’t feel like it’s ever going to get better, how medications don’t really help, etc. Whether these beliefs are spoken or unconscious, they have a significant impact on your ability to heal.
I learned about this only last year, when I was told by my functional nutritionist that the reason my SIBO wasn’t responding to clinically proven treatments was related to my mindset. Her exact words when my SIBO breath test results came back positive (AGAIN), were “Well, I guess we really need to start working on that vagus nerve!”
My first reactions were shock and anger, to be honest. Then I started crying, and said “Are you kidding me? After all of the time, money and significant effort I’ve put into trying to fix this over the past YEAR, you’re telling me that it’s all about my attitude???”
“Not exactly,” she said. Then proceeded to explain a few neuroscience concepts that really resonated:
- Limbic system impairment – the recognition that chronic conditions, often stemming from trauma or long-term stress, can lead to a maladaptive fight-or-flight response within the limbic system. Over time, the brain gets “stuck” in negative, over-sensitive neural loops that perpetuate physical problems.
- Neuroplasticity – the brain’s natural ability to change and reorganize itself based on experiences, thoughts and actions – means that we can “train” our brain to think and feel differently.
- The vagus nerve – the body’s longest cranial nerve that runs from the brainstem down through the chest and neck into the abdomen and connects to various organs. It is a major component of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates automatic bodily functions like breathing, heart rate and digestion.
Interesting, I had to admit. So begrudgingly, I began to reflect on my attitudes and beliefs about my belly and my illness. The sometimes unconscious but always negative thoughts that run on repeat in my brain. I am so sick of this. Constantly having a bloated belly that makes me look like I’m 8 months pregnant – sometimes 9. Spending all this money on expert specialists and testing. Taking 40 supplements a day. Having such a restricted diet. Not being able to eat things that, for any normal person, are considered healthy. Having to tell dinner party hosts or restaurant servers that I’m gluten-free (i.e., a pain in the ass). Being a nutritionist and not even being able to heal myself. And I came to see that, while every single one of these things are true, they are not helpful.
I won’t get into the details of quantum physics here (not that I’m an expert), but a well-known truth is that “where focus goes, energy flows”. The focus of your attention fuels the growth and expansion of whatever you are focused on. When you direct your attention and energy toward solutions that positive outcomes, you are more likely to achieve them. Conversely, dwelling on problems or what you don’t want can inadvertently give those things more energy, making them larger and more persistent in your experience.
The bottom line: intentionally changing your limiting beliefs and reprogramming your brain to see things differently is a powerful strategy for healing. I’ve listed some resources below that can educate, inspire and support you in doing this. (I have personally benefitted enormously from both the DNRS and Alleah Friedrich’s Flow programs.)
I highly encourage you to at least explore this approach, as it is very empowering – a solid and fresh way to take charge of your own health. It’s not a quick fix, but imagine (literally visualize) what it would be like to feel better! Isn’t it worth some time and effort?
Books:
- Wired for Healing – Annie Hopper
- The Brain that Changes Itself – Norman Doidge
- The Mind and The Brain – Jeffrey M. Schwartz MD
Programs:
- DNRS – Dynamic Neural Retraining Program
- The Gupta Program
- Re-Origin – Self-Directed Brain Reprogramming
People:
