Retrain the Brain for Chronic Illness | Anxiety and Stress Relief, Immune Dysregulation, Nervous System Regulation, Food and Chemical Sensitivities, Mindbody Healing

Welcome to the Flourish with Neural Retraining podcast! In this powerful episode, host Madeleine Lowry, a neural retraining specialist, is joined by her client, Kendall, to describe her journey with mindbody healing for chemical sensitivities. Kendall shares her profound story of overcoming debilitating mold and chemical sensitivities that had limited her life for about 9 years.
 
What You'll Learn:
Kendall's Experience with Sensitivities: Discover how Kendall's sensitivities evolved to the point where she felt trapped and highly limited in her life. She experienced debilitating symptoms including brain fog, dizziness, dissociation, disequilibrium, insomnia, fear, and hypervigilance, and couldn't even sleep in her own bedroom. Her sensitivities made her react to new items, fabrics, and carpet, shrinking her world.
The Struggle with Other Modalities: Kendall had tried numerous other brain retraining methods and healing modalities without lasting success, including EMDR, neurofeedback, allergy shots, mold specialists, detoxification protocols, hypnosis, and other brain retraining programs like DNRS. She intellectually understood her sensitivities were a nervous system association, but felt deeply stuck because subconscious patterns remained unshifted.
The MAP Method: A Turning Point: Finding an advanced neural retraining approach called MAP marked a significant turning point for Kendall. MAP offered a different approach that goes many layers deeper by working directly with the subconscious mind.
How MAP Differs: Unlike repetitive scripts or affirmations found in some other methods, MAP is a process of allowing and holding space for what comes up from the subconscious. Sessions are guided by the practitioner, tapping into the wisdom of the body and mind without needing conscious clarity on specific traumas. It's not an effortful process, and the subconscious mind sets the pace, addressing patterns layer by layer.
Kendall's Remarkable Shifts: After approximately 12 sessions over six months, Kendall experienced significant positive changes:
    ◦ A shift from hopelessness to stronger resolve and deeper understanding that sensitivities are a body-created association.
    ◦ Physical improvements including a surprising shift in skin sensitivities and resolution of chronic neck and back tension.
    ◦ Breakthroughs in reintroducing items: She can now sleep in her own room and bed, bring new items into her home, wear many more clothes, and is much less sensitive to synthetic fabrics and furniture.
    ◦ Faster adaptation to new environments when traveling.
    ◦ The speed at which her body reintroduces items skyrocketed, from months to as little as two days.
A Beacon of Hope: Kendall's story is a powerful testament that subconscious programming is just programming and it can be changed. Her experience offers profound hope for anyone with multiple sensitivities, chronic symptoms, or those feeling stuck after trying other methods.
 
If you are feeling stuck in your healing journey, please listen to this conversation and be inspired.
 
#MindbodyHealing #NeuralRetraining #ChemicalSensitivities #MoldSensitivities #ChronicIllness #HighlySensitivePerson #HSP #SubconsciousHealing #MAPMethod #AnxietyRelief #BrainFog #NervousSystemRegulation #TraumaHealing #BeyondDNRS #HealingJourney #Breakthrough #EmotionalWellness #HolisticHealth #SelfHealing #HealthAndWellness #StuckNoMore

Explore a different path to natural healing for hypothyroidism and chronic stress in Episode 80 of Flourish with Neural Retraining. Host Madeleine Lowry speaks with client, Eriko, about her journey using a 12-week thyroid healing program based on neural retraining . Eriko had managed hypothyroidism with medication for 20 years but still suffered from symptoms like anxiety and insomnia. Conventional treatments often fall short for individuals with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's.
 
This episode highlights a mindbody approach utilizing neural retraining and stress reduction to achieve symptom improvement by working with the mind. The structured, self-paced program guides users through modules addressing emotional memories, complex patterns like fear, control, and stress-related behaviors, and core beliefs. 
 
Eriko achieved significant results, reducing her thyroid medication dose by a third. Even on the lower dose, she reported a 30 to 50% improvement in core thyroid symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, and anxiety. A welcome side benefit was her A1C improving from pre-diabetic to normal range.
 
Beyond physical symptoms, she experienced profound reduction in anxiety, improved sleep and digestion, felt more comfortable in her own skin, and fundamentally changed her response to stress.
 
Stress underlies many chronic conditions. By clearing subconscious and accumulated stress, the program optimizes  the body's natural healing capacities. Eriko found it beneficial for other chronic conditions and recommends it for anyone struggling with chronic stress or any chronic condition, offering an easier, gentler way to achieve lasting change.
 
Listen now to learn how the mind can support healing the body—naturally. Learn more at TCNeuralRetraining.com

Join me for episode 79 where I will describe, demonstrate and teach a simple MAP tool for stress relief. It’s called MAP on the Go advanced.
If you are a current client of mine, you are familiar with MAP on the Go which is a simple instruction you can give yourself after your first MAP session to manage your emotions and more.
MAP on the Go Advanced has a few more steps to it and goes a little bit deeper. It is a wonderful tool for managing stress and anxiety, even if you have never had a MAP session before, because everything you need to get started is in this episode.
In this episode I discuss: - My experience with the MAP Wellbeing Facilitator Program. - Who the MAP Wellbeing Facilitator is appropriate for. - How therapists, practitioners and coaches can add it to an existing practice. - The 4 steps of MAP of MAP on the Go Advanced. - Types of subjects this protocol is most useful for. - The role of a MAP Wellbeing Facilitator and when a certified MAP Practitioner is a better choice. - The preparatory steps for your first MAP on the Go Advanced (MOG-A) session. - Full demonstration of a MOG-A session. - How you can learn more.
If you would like to watch the 5-minute preparatory video, please visit YouTube: https://youtu.be/V1r-57VUWf0?si=d-tkTXr3lbCkdjSV.
If you would like to access our MAP on the Go Advanced course which includes the preparatory video, simple session script, and instructions, please visit MAPforHealth.us.
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit: TCNeuralRetraining.com. For information about the MAP Wellness Facilitator certification course, visit MAPCoachingInstitute.com 

Join me for episode 78 where I will talk about how and why we can retrain the brain to experience more abundance in all areas of life, including financial abundance, loving relationships, and physical, mental and emotional health.
I will discuss points from Colette Streicher’s book, Abundance on Demand, which explains how we use an advanced method of neural retraining to accomplish this with minimal effort. I will also describe some techniques and exercises from her book and how you can use these on your own to prepare for and enhance your experience with MAP sessions.
In this episode I discuss:
- How to discover your subconscious blueprint regarding money or health.
- Why your blueprint may be holding you back.
- How to define your goal in any area of life.
- Colette’s five easy steps to change your subconscious programming to be aligned with what you desire.
- How to identify your beliefs about money or health.
- How to identify your core beliefs about yourself.
- Why it’s important to identify traumatic events related to money or health.
- Explore the symbolic relationship you have with wealth or health.
- Identify the emotions you have around money or health.
- How to clear negative programming and reinforce positive programs.
- How to accelerate change through daily habits.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy hearing Episode 29: The MAP Method Origins, Research, and Applications with Colette Streicher, LMSW, founder of the MAP Method.
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit MAPforHealth.us for our free courses and all of our MAP Programs.
To schedule appointments online, please visit: TCNeuralRetraining.com.

Join me for episode 77 where we hear from MAP Practitioner, Elynn Light,, about how she uses the MAP Method of neural retraining for chronic pain patterns and trauma healing.
Hear how she learned about the method after training in many other techniques, including hypnosis, and why she calls it the “best investment she ever made” – the most fun to use and with the best results.
In this episode we discuss:
- Elynn’s background in nursing and the many alternative modalities that she has trained in to resolve her own pain from a car accident.
- Her observations of the impact of working with the subconscious mind with a hybrid hypnosis method.
- Her assessment of hypnosis vs. the MAP Method.
- Why she decided to train in the MAP Method and why it is her primary modality still.
- Her focus: helping people release pain naturally and how she uses her intuitive skills in MAP sessions.
- How physical symptoms, including “real pain” can be resolved by working with the mind and our thoughts and emotions.
- The connections between trauma and chronic health issues.
- How sensitive clients are more strongly impacted by even small painful emotional events.
- A client with thyroid issues who improved after a session on a painful emotional memory.
- A client with leg pain that resolved subconsciously-held negative emotions.
- The same part of the brain that processes emotional pain also processes physical pain.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy hearing my discussion in episode 74 about MAP for Chronic Pain. Check out our MAP for Chronic Pain program at https://www.mapforhealth.us
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit MAPforHealth.us for our free courses and all of our MAP Programs. To schedule appointments online, please visit: TCNeuralRetraining.com.

Join us for Episode 76 featuring my client, Nicki, as she shares her journey with neural retraining over several months. Discover how this unique approach to mind-body healing helped Nicki overcome debilitating anxiety, patterns of overthinking, worry, and the racing thoughts that kept her up at night.
Nicki came to our sessions after her health challenges, including getting COVID, left her feeling stuck in fight or flight. She was specifically hoping to address anxiety, fight/flight, sleep issues, and an autoimmune thyroid condition. Hear how since starting advanced neural retraining sessions (MAP), she has experienced a significant reduction in negative thought loops and anxiety, including the physical "burst" feeling in her chest. She's found more mental space and improved sleep. Nicki also discusses how MAP helped her health anxiety and worry about her son's health.
Learn why working at the mental and emotional level is crucial, as it leads to improvements in physical health. When your body is stuck in fight or flight, even beneficial interventions like detoxes and supplements may be less effective. By resolving issues at the level of the subconscious mind, MAP offers a way to help turn around the challenging experience of chronic illness.
Nicki found MAP to be easier and gentler than other methods she tried, like talk therapy and EMDR. She felt the positive effects were "almost immediate" and much less draining. Hear why she calls MAP "an easier, softer way of getting to where you want to be". If you are dealing with anxiety, fight/flight, or exploring comprehensive approaches for conditions like autoimmune thyroid, this episode offers valuable insights into how addressing the mind-body connection with MAP could be a key part of your journey.
Mentioned in this episode: Nicki was referred by functional medicine practitioner Dr. Eric Balcavage. For more on how MAP can support thyroid function, you may also enjoy episode 88 with Dr. Eric Balcavage on the Thyroid Answers podcast.
To learn more about the MAP Method, including how it addresses anxiety, fight/flight, and supports overall health including chronic conditions like autoimmune thyroid, visit TCNeuralRetraining.com.

Join me for episode 75 where we hear from Jelena Katić Ujević, MAP Coach and Trainer for the MAP Coaching Institute, about her new program for emotional and physical weight. Hear about the insights she gained by working with clients to achieve weight loss by processing unresolved painful emotions.
Learn more about the role of the stress response in weight gain and loss, and why loving yourself may be the necessary precursor to making healthier choices.
In this episode we discuss:
- Why eating right and exercising doesn’t always lead to weight loss.
- Why releasing emotional weight is an important first step.
- The significance of emotional stress on health and weight.
- How early life trauma changes our default response to stress.
- Why we may not have learned how to cope with emotional stress and how that contributes to emotional weight.
- How the subconscious mind remembers abuses associated with being attractive, and how those can become blocks to weight loss.
- How advanced neural retraining with MAP sessions can release unresolved pain and allow for changes in behaviors and habits.
- The research behind the program and the results for the early participants.
- The format of the program for the Basic and Premium options.
- Why subliminal audio files are Jelena’s preferred format.
Learn more about Jelena’s Neuro ReShape program and register for a free 7-day trial: https://www.mapcoachinginstitute.com/a/2147830880/Pe2eMzLo
If you enjoyed this episode, you may be interested in a previous episode: How to Use Your Mind to Heal Your Body, or my interview with Colette Streicher, LMSW, the founder of the MAP Method in episode 30.
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit MAPforHealth.us for our free courses. To schedule a MAP session please book online at TCNeuralRetraining.com.

Join me for episode 74 where I will talk about how and why we can retrain the brain for chronic pain symptoms. This includes back pain, joint pain, muscle aches, headaches, migraines, scar pain or pain from old injuries, and pain from conditions like arthritis and fibromyalgia.
I will describe some examples of this with my clients, and my own stories of pain relief as well. I will talk a little bit about the MAP Program for Chronic Pain, and how it can be used alongside live sessions with a practitioner.
In this episode I discuss:
- The role of the subconscious mind in pain perception.
- How the brain can become hyper-responsive to pain impulses.
- The phenomenon of phantom pain, and shock.
- Sarno principles: pain and repressed emotions, the plight of the “perfect” and the “good.”
- How we use the MAP Method to work with the subconscious mind to find root causes of pain patterns.
- How ten minutes of toxic thoughts can lead to 10 hours of pain.
- How unrecognized emotional stress can be expressed as back pain.
- Client stories illustrating how subconscious emotional stress, triggers, beliefs, behaviors and resistance can amplify and prolong pain.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy hearing Helen’s story in episode 40: MAP for Chronic Pain where she talks about her autoimmune condition, ankylosing spondylitis, and the pain relief she experienced after a set of MAP sessions.
To learn more about the molecules of emotion and their effect on health, listen to episode 60: MAP for Emotional Causes of Illness..
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit MAPforHealth.us for our free courses and our MAP Programs, including the MAP Introduction Program. To schedule a MAP session please book online at TCNeuralRetraining.com.

Join me for episode 73 where we hear from my client, Tess, about her experiences with the MAP Method over 4 months, and how MAP has helped her to overcome her sensitivities to smells, chronic headaches, IBS, repetitive negative thoughts and improved her bloodwork.
Hear how she came to MAP already understanding the connection between trauma and chronic illness, and how MAP sessions proved more effective than other modalities she had tried including DNRS, EMDR, Safe and Sound, Somatics, and more.
In this episode we discuss:
- How she found the MAP method with a very focused Google search.
- Her experience with DNRS and how it helped, but wasn’t enough.
- What she was hoping to address in MAP sessions: multiple allergies and sensitivities (hearing, smell, touch, foods, environmental), IBS, chronic pain (headaches, neck, back, body aches), hypothyroid, mold, Lyme and coinfections.
- How she used the MAP for Self Healing to address negative thought loops, neck tension, and headaches.
- How she used the MAP for Sensitivities to resolve smell sensitivities.
- The improvements in her bloodwork: B12 levels, homocysteine, and white blood cell and red blood cell counts.
- The increased freedom she has in her life as a result of MAP: to travel, socialize, be outside, cook, see the dentist, wear a necklace, and drive alone.
- The emotional level changes she has noted: more relaxed, able to enjoy the moment, less fixated on having to “do the right thing all the time.”
- How she understands trauma to be “something that happened that your brain has not processed properly.”
- How she deals with symptoms that come up – let it come and let it go–and how nothing hurts as much or as long as it used to.
- When you’ve been sick your whole thought process changes, and to make the leap back, it requires neural retraining.
- Why symptom patterns sometimes show up strongly right before they break down for good.
- Her experience of neutralizing a trauma memory during a MAP session and how the memory and her perspective changed.
- How anyone of any faith or religious background can feel comfortable working with MAP.
- How MAP programs offer a convenient and affordable way to have MAP sessions on your own.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may also enjoy hearing Susan’s story in episode 69: MAP for Chronic Illness or a functional medicine practitioner’s discussion of MAP for Complex Chronic Conditions.
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit MAPforHealth.us for our free courses and our MAP Programs. To schedule an Introductory MAP session please book online at TCNeuralRetraining.com.

Join me for episode 72 where I will talk about how to prepare yourself for your first MAP session. I will go over the most important step, which is to watch the 15-minute preparatory video, and the flow of the first session as well as some common concerns about the MAP process.
If you are not familiar with the MAP Method, let me just say this: The MAP Method is a “beautifully simple” way to resolve or release trauma emotions. If you are familiar with energy psychology methods like EMDR or tapping, MAP is the next generation - gentler and goes deeper. If you are familiar with energy work like Reiki, you might think of MAP as Reiki for the mind. If you are familiar with acupuncture, this is similar, only we use the mind to diagnose blocks, and optimize energy flow. If you have tried neural retraining methods like DNRS, MAP sessions achieve the same ends with less time and effort.
In this episode, I discuss:
- How to schedule your Introductory MAP session.
- Why it is important to watch the preparatory video.
- How to access the Zoom and set up your video.
- How to choose a subject for your first session.
- Why we take a baseline of your topic before we get started.
- The purpose of the first MAP session, a 60-minute session.
- Why we take a few minutes to complete the initiation to MAP at the beginning of your first session.
- The flow of the Introductory session - what to expect.
- The purpose of syncing up our subconscious minds prior to working on your subject.
- The two streams of information a practitioner is following in a MAP session.
- How a MAP Practitioner is able to guide the session through muscle checking.
MAP is not hypnosis, it is a meditative process.
- What to expect as we begin to work on your subject.
- How to observe the clues that your subconscious mind is giving you during a session.
- Each MAP session is an iterative process.
- What you will notice by the end of the session that is an indication that the method is working for you.
- The value of neutralizing memories and its effect on subconscious programming, patterns of behavior, conditioned responses, symptoms, etc.
- Factors that will improve your receptivity to MAP.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may be interested in the previous episode: How to Use Your Mind to Heal Your Body, or my interview with Colette Streicher, LMSW, the founder of the MAP Method in episode 30.
To learn more about the MAP Method, please visit MAPforHealth.us for our free courses.
To schedule an Introductory MAP session please book online at TCNeuralRetraining.com.