In recent posts, I've referred to creating new habits and have also mentioned brain retraining. About a year ago, my integrative medicine doctor recommended brain retraining for me in regard to my PTSD and anxiety. Considering her input, I began to look into The Gupta Program and started it in November.
So what is brain retraining with The Gupta Program? Well, it's a way to rewire the brain using the neuroplasticity that we all have access to. One definition I found:
neuroplasticity: the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to intrinsic or extrinsic stimuli by reorganizing its structure, functions, or connections…
Our brains are not fixed with age; we can learn new things and new ways of being. Through deliberate action, we can actually create new nerve connection pathways in our brains. It's pretty incredible stuff! The Gupta Program was developed by British neuroscientist Ashok Gupta, based on his own experience of healing himself from chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and M.E. (myalgic encephalomyelitis or post exertion malaise.) Through his research and practical application of meditation and neuroplasticity concepts, he was able to recover and eventually founded his London clinic. With his clinic-based success in helping others, he developed the supportive online program for people struggling with chronic conditions all over the world.
The program applies to any number of autoimmune conditions (chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, long COVID, Lyme disease, food and chemical and mold sensitivities, among others) as well as mental health conditions such as PTSD and anxiety. The premise of the research and the program is that a threatening event occurs — whether a virus, bacteria, chronic stress, injury or trauma, and then the body musters its forces to fight the invader and survive. Following the threat, the immune system or nervous system continues to believe that the body is in danger, and a looping cycle develops in the brain of symptoms and threat responses. For some, this means pain and fatigue, for others: unusual sensitivities, for others: physical limitations, for others: anxiety and fear.
What this program does, through an online video program and webinar supports, is work to first calm the nervous system which has been in a heightened, hypervigilant state. This is done through education on how the condition developed and through meditation, lifestyle changes and learning better pacing so that the body and nervous system are not constantly overwhelmed. From there, we also add in the retraining, which is a series of steps, movements and verbal cues which we use when we notice a negative thought pattern arise or when we're focused on our symptoms, future events that worry us, etc.
A main focus of the program is connecting with your “loving, wise self” or your “witnessing awareness”, disidentifying from negative, worried thoughts and looping patterns of focus on symptoms. The retrainer learns to become an observer of thoughts instead of identified with them. In the retraining, we are encouraged to connect with a “higher power” or our “representation of love.” The program is very democratic in not naming a specific divine presence. I think that is wise, because many people have religious trauma. So, this is a way to connect with a Loving Source in a non-triggering setting.
So how is this program working for me? As I said, I started last November and worked with it to the best of my ability during the busy holiday season and New Year's travels. I watched the videos, grew to understand the theory of how the hypervigilance developed, incorporated the meditations and did some of the retraining as much as I could. I will say that the meditations were wonderful for feeling more relaxed, and I felt empowered to be working with myself to create new pathways in the brain. I found the video sessions very soothing and enlightening. And I also felt like I was becoming more willing to talk about my PTSD and share with select others how I was working with a neuroplasticity program to recover. Eventually, I joined a 12-week webinar attached to the program. That was helpful for guidance and also connecting with other retrainers in breakout rooms.
My therapist also supported the use of the program and in fact, he felt I was doing so well that he didn't need to see me monthly anymore. I have since gone back to regular therapy visits, as I needed the support in recent months.
I hit a dip (the program refers to a setback as a dip) in May and June with some triggering events, and I found myself in a heightened state of anxiety. However, I continued to do the meditations and retraining — even as I felt very vulnerable in my anxious state.
All throughout, I’ve continued to practice Qigong — as I have for four years. I also maintained regular practices of journaling, nature time and spiritual nourishment as I leaned hard on God to carry me through. I was also grateful for loving support from my family and friends.
With the help of supplements and medication as well as the shifts I referred to in my post We Are Capable, I've been lifting out of the anxiety — still being mindful to not overdo things with busyness and commitments. But in recent weeks I've seen my retraining reach a new level. I'm doing it with more joy and playfulness and seeing it as an opportunity to transform rather than having an attitude of drudgery. I'm believing more in my healing and accepting this phase in my life as a chance to reformat neural pathways that have been stuck in survival mode since childhood. I'm believing that I'm capable of healing — even from a “significant trauma history” as my therapist has put it. Notably, I have become more aware of my unhealthy thought patterns and can retrain in the moments and shift my mind to a more positive path. It’s working!
I'm sharing all of this with you as a resource. If you deal with autoimmune or mental health conditions, The Gupta Program may be a helpful tool along your healing path. It's a gentle and supportive program, which validates your condition and experience and guides you toward recovery. The timing is ideal for me to tell you about this, because the program is now offering a free trial to a new feature: Daily Guptacise healing meditations. You are invited to benefit from weekday meditations for free and see how that works for you. I personally have not been able to attend the daily sessions live as they're at 7:00 AM PDT, but I access the recordings later when they fit in my day. I've really enjoyed having these recordings from various coaches in the program — each bringing wisdom and accessibility to the meditations.
Anyone can benefit from the 20-minute meditations, whether one has an autoimmune or mental health condition or not. All of us deal with the stresses and strains of living in this modern world. I'm including a link here to the free trial app. All you need to do is click on Register for Free Trial at the top of the page.
I pray all of us would have the resources we need on our healing path. If The Gupta Program can be a help for you, I would be glad to hear from you directly with any questions about my experience.
With hope for new pathways,
Jen