Personal Stories: Triumph Over Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

                                                                       Photo credit: Satish Kumar / The National
                                                      Alice Haine (right) with her personal trainer Emma White (left) in Dubai 

               The story of Alice Haine is one many of those with chronic illness or Fibromyalgia can relate to. of triumph. A year ago she was suffering from a range of debilitating symptoms that effectively stopped her life dead on the tracks. Unable to get out of bed or work full time, Haine was struggling to understand what was going on in her body. A mother of two living in the UAE, Haine was terrified that the life she had enjoyed as a wife, mother, and editor at The National- would be drastically limited by illness. In September of 2013, Haine was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. So, what was she to do next?

            With diagnosis in hand, Haine sought out to find treatments that would restore her heath. Researching online and joining support groups, she was devastated to see that many others with the same illness had spend years of their life restricted to a wheel chair or relying of care-givers. But Haine seemingly refused to accept that as her fate, and "just 10 weeks after [her] devastating diagnosis; however, [she] returned to full-time work. And today, 11 months on, [she] is almost fully recovered. So, how did [she] do it?' * 


          Haine credits her recovering to an fairly unknown treatment plan called, "Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) – a Canadian programme that remaps the brain away from a constant cycle of illness and back to full health over a period of six months...The programme was launched in 2009 by Annie Hopper, a counsellor and psychotherapist from Toronto, after she recovered from multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS). Using her professional experience and the latest research in neuroscience, she concluded that she was suffering from a limbic-system disorder where the brain is locked into a permanent trauma loop (or state of fight or flight), which makes it see everything around it as some form of threat." *   

What is the lymbic system and what role does it play in Dynamic Neural Retraining System?

              According to Haine's own article published at The National, "the limbic system is a complex set of structures in the brain that’s largely responsible for how we interpret sensory input. Several factors can impair its function, from exposure to chemicals, a virus, an emotional or physical trauma or accumulated stress. Once the system is damaged, it causes cross-wiring of the neuronal circuits in the brain and, as a result, distorted sensory perceptions."

              So, the theory is, if one can effectively train the brain to direct a positive focus away from pain and illness, then the patient can essentially re-wire the focus of the lymbic system. This theory, neuroplasticity, is revolutionary in the field of brain science. Neuroplasticity states that the brain is not a static system, but rather it is dynamic and always changing. It has plasticity. The  Dynamic Neural Retraining System utilizes this theory to create new, healthy pathways in the brain. Essentially, the sufferer of chronic illness would think themselves well.

              The program is completed in six months and is taught through a 14 hr DVD package. Each patient is directed to focus on positive brain training exercises for one hour each day. "To date, the DNRS programme has only treated 3,000 people – some on courses hosted by Hopper in North America and more than 1,800 through the 14-hour DVD that she created to reach those farther away."  More information about Hopper's program can be found at the her website http://www.dnrsystem.com/

             Treatments for fibromyalgia and any other chronic illness are often alternative in nature, due to the fact that the illness itself is still widely misunderstood by 'western' doctors. I, myself, have not yet tried the DNRS system and remain skeptical in nature. The power of the brain is truly astounding and I do believe that many people can will themselves into good health through the power of effective positive thinking. However, new 'miracle' treatments should always be taken under advisement before one makes an investment. Understanding how our body works is key in understanding how to heal, and the more we know the more answers we can unlock. Studying the function of the lymbic system and the power of the brain in rewiring old, negative thought patterns is a worth while endeavor and I will continue to do my own research into the topic. The most effective treatments for any illness usually involve an integrative approach to health. An approach that integrates 'western' and holistic medicine practices. Haine herself states that " the DNRS wasn't my only treatment"  But she does believe that, "The most important step in [her] recovery was being diagnosed, [and] the next was believing [she] could get better. There’s no one-stop solution for ­everybody, but treating both the brain and the physical symptoms was the key to [her] recovery."

           If you are interested in learning more about DNRS please follow the links above or below. In my upcoming posts I will be looking deeper into the program myself and learning more about the theories of neuroplasticity. 

Until next time,

Feast From Within

Sources:

For more information about the DNRS program, http://www.dnrsystem.com/Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/arts-lifestyle/well-being/the-road-to-recovery-a-first-hand-account-of-beating-chronic-fatigue-syndrome#page1#ixzz39XVr48CP
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