Christian Brain Retraining 101 | How & Why Christ Matters in Healing
What is brain retraining?
And how can it help me heal?
If you’ve ever asked these questions, you’re not alone. Self-guided neuroplasticity is not quite mainstream yet but is quickly gaining ground as a legitimate, science-based method to heal.
But whether you’ve already learned brain retraining or you’re looking to dive into a program, it’s a good idea to understand some key foundations.
What is brain retraining?
Simply put, brain retraining—also called brain rewiring, limbic system rewiring, or self-guided neuroplasticity—is a method to change the firing pattern of your neural circuits.
Maybe you’ve heard the Hebbian theory that “neurons that fire together, wire together.” That means your brain links neural pathways together, for better or for worse. It’s what creates an automatic response to a trigger, especially one that’s linked to past experiences, trauma or heightened emotions.
For example, if you see a big spider, you might instantly feel a sense of fear. Or if you smell a particular scent from childhood, you might be instantly transported mentally back to that time in your life.
Taking this one step further, neuroscientists have linked physical and mental health to nervous system (brain) function. And many experts are now realizing that the brain is the control center for optimal health.
With brain retraining, we learn to harness our thoughts, beliefs and behaviors to drive changes in the brain so that your mind and body can heal. The process of brain rewiring reroutes your neural pathways from the old connections related to patterns of chronic illness to new pathways rooted in wellness.
In short, changing your brain changes your life!
How stress drives symptoms
Every time you have an experience, neurons fire in a sequential order. Over time, neural circuits in your brain form based on the experiences and your responses to what’s happening. As you repeat thoughts and responses, the neural circuit or pathway becomes stronger and stronger. If repeated many times, the circuit can become automatic, firing on a subconscious level.
Now let’s relate how your neural circuits are connected to stress signals in the brain.
Scientific studies continue to point to stress (all types: physical, emotional, psychological) as prime contributors to chronic illness. How so? In response to stimuli, your brain will send a message through the nervous system to either initiate, increase or down regulate the stress response. This means stress responses begin in the brain.
Over time chronic stress or “perceived danger” messages drive inflammation and have major impacts on all functions and processes in your body. Your brain will direct the body to produce cortisol, adrenaline and norepinephrine to prepare to fight or flee.
Acute stress is okay and even good for you at times. But chronic stress—whether from your circumstances or unresolved emotional or physical trauma—can lead to a dysregulated nervous system that perpetuates symptoms and dis-ease in the body.
When your system is stuck in survival mode and unable to downregulate, your body’s resources are spent dealing with the ongoing perceived crisis in your body, not to healing.
Rewiring patterns with Jesus changes your brain’s signals to freedom in Christ
With brain retraining, you learn to capture and reroute patterns in the mind and body coming from a brain stuck in a chronic survival state to create new healthy neural pathways that calm your nervous system—so you can recover your health and freedom.
But learning to rewire your brain isn’t a skill we’re born with. Symptoms, emotions, relationships and more can make it difficult to overcome old thought patterns that keep you fixed in a state of dis-ease. That’s why it’s important you learn science-based brain retraining tools with a structured program.
You see, brain retraining isn’t simply a form of avoiding triggers or just moving on from the past. Through a Christian lens, neuroplasticity opens the door to God, the Healer, through brain retraining techniques like focused visualizations, capturing thoughts and Jesus-centered behavior modifications. If done with the only One who can heal, through His unconditional love, then true healing can take place.
In fact, God’s word is sprinkled with wisdom about the mind and neuroplasticity, like Romans 12:2:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Why Christ matters with brain retraining
Jesus was fundamental in my own brain rewiring recovery. To me, there’s no separating the two. That’s because as you rewire your brain away from stress and dis-ease, you build new patterns in your brain based on the truth.
But where do you get your truth from? If your truth is not built on Jesus Christ, then you’re building a brain and body on the sand—and the forces and cares of this world will knock it down. But by brain rewiring with Jesus, His Truth becomes your new pattern, built on the sturdy foundation of His love, grace and mercy.
That’s why I teach people how to do brain retraining together with Christ. Neuroplasticity combined with a relationship with God as He reveals Himself to us through His word and His Spirit literally implants His promises into your subconscious mind/heart. He becomes a part of you!
If you’d like to learn more about my Christian approach to brain retraining, you can check out Gateway to Healing.
Gateway to Healing is a comprehensive, Christ-focused, science-backed brain rewiring program that teaches you how to effectively rewire your brain with Jesus—and ultimately heal.
If you have questions about brain retraining and whether you can heal in Jesus’ name, please reach out. I’d love to hear from you.