State Of The Art Research

There is now research (1) to support the notion that many of the aforementioned ailments occur as the result of a ‘conditioning effect’ that takes place when the limbic system becomes traumatized (by an injury, infection, or stressful life event) while the allostatic stress load on the nervous system is already high (2). This combination overwhelms the brain, leading to an overactive stress response and unproductive, conditioned patterns in the brain. When in this impaired state, the limbic system inappropriately stimulates the immune system (3) and nervous system as if an ongoing threat was present, even though the original aggressor has long passed.

The continuous stimulation of the immune system and nervous system lead to perpetual symptomsThis etiology is analogous to the development of chronic pain syndromes, where pain sensation centers in the brain persist even after the original injury causing the pain has resolved. The good news is that these symptoms are temporary, and mounting evidence suggests that many, if not all of these symptoms, can be attenuated thanks to neuroplasticity—the brain’s ability to change and develop new neural pathways. Using specific neurocognitive exercises, it is possible to get your brain and body out of “emergency mode” and back to a place of safety and balance where well-being can naturally resume ().