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Show Notes

Why are we talking about neuroplasticity in regards to Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS & MCS?

What is neuroplasticity?

How does neuroplasticity occur?

How can we best affect neuroplasticity for recovery from ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS & MCS? 

These are some of the questions we answer in this episode of Wisdom from the Other Side as well as central sensitisation and the benefits of taking a wider approach to neuroplasticity.

Timestamps

Introduction0:00:00
Podcast Disclaimer0:02:53
Starting the discussion - sweating through the podcast 0:03:34
Why are we talking about neuroplasticity in regards to Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS and MCS?0:04:30
What is neuroplasticity? What are specific ways in which neuroplasticity can occur?  0:05:57
Does neuroplasticity only occur in children?0:08:43
Dan tells about the remarkable abilities neuroplasticity can lead to.0:12:30
Claudia asks about physical changes between meditators and non-meditators.0:14:14
Does neuroplasticity imply that the illness is psychological in nature?0:18:43
How can chronically ill people progress with neuroplasticity when they are limited physically? Should we push?0:23:06
So does the illness limit neuroplasticity from occurring?  How specifically does neuroplasticity occur? (perhaps surprising to many)0:26:32
How other activities benefit positive neuroplasticity - the dopamine connection.0:34:01
Need to take a wider approach to brain-training - wider approach including physical approach0:37:58
Will you explain how ANS dysfunction can lead to central sensitisation?0:39:44
Dan talks about how the program was developed for other symptoms and then the overlap for pain.0:42:35
Dan answers how central sensitisation occurs in more detail0:45:27
Claudia confirms about how central sensitisation leads to reduced pain threshold & Dan comments on the MCS connection0:48:00
Dan starts to summarise closing message about the importance of focus0:50:25
Discussion around limitations on affecting neuroplasticity0:52:34

Links

Luders E, Toga AW, Lepore N, Gaser C. The underlying anatomical correlates of long-term meditation: larger hippocampal and frontal volumes of gray matter.  - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19280691/ 

Lazar, S. W., Kerr, C. E., Wasserman, R. H., Gray, J. R., Greve, D. N., Treadway, M. T., McGarvey, M., Quinn, B. T., Dusek, J. A., Benson, H., Rauch, S. L., Moore, C. I., & Fischl, B. (2005). Meditation experience is associated with increased cortical thickness - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1361002/

Hölzel, B. K., Carmody, J., Vangel, M., Congleton, C., Yerramsetti, S. M., Gard, T., & Lazar, S. W. (2011). Mindfulness practice leads to increases in regional brain gray matter density -  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3004979/

Lyon P, Cohen M, Quintner J. An evolutionary stress-response hypothesis for chronic widespread pain (fibromyalgia syndrome) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21692974/

Other Resources

Paperback & eBook

CFS Unravelled is the book that started it all, outlining the explanation for the pathogenesis of ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS, MCS and related syndromes and explaining how recovery is possible.

Learn more HERE.

All my email subscribers receive additional FREE resources like my book Discover Hope.  So consider subscribing and reading the book to rediscover hope.

Discover Hope Bookcover

To learn how other people recover, listen to the recovery interviews!

sunset background with words Fibromyalgia recovery stories
sunset background with words ME/CFS recovery stories
sunset background with words POTS recovery stories
sunset background with words MCS recovery stories

If you would like to learn more about the ANS REWIRE program, check out the 4 free intro lessons or visit the ANS REWIRE website.

Check out some other recent episodes

Episode 20: Snippet – How resilient can recoveries be after ME/CFS, Fibromyalgia, POTS, MCS, PVFS (or long-covid)?
Episode 4: Dr Jacob Teitelbaum, world leading MECFS Fibromyalgia POTS physician, shares his research and experience
Episode 13: Snippet – Should you change program, coach or practitioner to help you recover from CFS/Fibromyalgia/POTS/MCS?
Episode 1: How to cope and deal with the injustice of invisible illness including chronic illness like Fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, POTS and MCS

You can see the full list of episodes HERE.

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