This blog is the second of a 2-part series. Read the first blog titled: How does the brain's limbic system play a role in eczema, rosacea & psoriasis pt.1

My Personal Experience With LSI

I developed LSI as a child after I was physiologically harmed by the traditional healthcare system. Shortly after that injury, I developed eczema, thrush, digestive issues and frequent cold sores. At that time as a youngster my parents did not know that I had developed LSI.

In late 2019 I became seriously ill. While I had a vast array of symptoms, I also had many skin sensitivities at that point which included chronic eczema, rashes and hives that would not heal.

It was in 2021, when I found out I had LSI from an incredibly knowledgeable and talented functional medicine doctor that was practicing out of California at the time. She pointed me in the direction of the brain retraining program: The Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS), founded by Canadian psychologist Annie Hopper.

How DNRS Works

DNRS is a drug and supplement free program. It's premise is to re-wire the brain out of a fight-or-flight trauma loop by interrupting old neural pathways and building new healthy neural connections. DNRS does this by using 5 fundamental pillars that must be followed for at least 6 months for lasting changes to be made in the brain. The 5 DNRS pillars are as follows:

1) Recognizing limbic impairment - understanding how your brain is stuck in a survival loop.

2) Interrupting P.O.P.s (Pathways of the Past) - identifying and shifting old, negative neural patterns. Examples include:

• complaining
• fortune telling (fear-based thinking)
• living by your feeling
• hyper-vigilance and environmental scanning
• negative self-dialogue and guilt
• obsessive monitoring of symptoms
• over caregiving
• rushing
• victim mentality

3) Full rounds of practice - daily consistent 15-minute visualization rounds that interrupt old neural pathways and create new healthy ones. These rounds should be done 4x a day.

4) Incremental training - gradually exposing oneself to small triggers, retraining the brain's former stress response.

5) Elevating emotions - maintaining high frequency emotions to rewire the brain for safety.

My Journey Brain Retraining

I began brain retraining January 1, 2022. At that time, I weighed 88 pounds and was extremely fragile. January 1, 2022 was the day my life was saved. As I dedicated myself to the 5 pillars, I quickly began to put on healthy weight, my diet dramatically expanded, and I began exercising again. Symptoms that had been debilitating me began to disappear and for the first time in my life I had extended periods with minimal eczema or none at all. During this time, I was working with a certified DNRS coach and was a part of a weekly, 1-hour long, DNRS support group which was facilitated by a certified DNRS coach, and ran for 3 months at a time.

I began to incorporate Dr. Joe Dispenza’s meditations in 2024 and I saw further positive shifts in my health. My experience with limbic system impairment and my treatment plan to rewire my brain over the last 3 years has proved to me that brain retraining is a viable option to effectively manage or even resolve the experience of eczema. 

*Now, as of December 22, 2025 I am currently eczema free, but still experience some minor flares up when my nervous system is overextended. 

1. The Dynamic Neural Retaining System - developed in 2008 by Canadian psychologist Annie Hopper *this is the program I started in January 2022 and still continue to do daily with amazing results. DNRS is simply a way of living for me now. 
   
   
2. The Gupta Program - developed in 2007 by neuroplasticity expert Ashok Gupta *I’ve never done this one but have heard great things about the Gupta Program

1. NeuroPraxis – “a digital app made up of interactive Neurosculpting ® modules that shift brain neuroplasticity and support wellbeing” (founded in 2020 by Jody Lever, Lisa Wimberger, Erick Carlson) *I have used this app in the past and loved it – it is around $9.99 a month.
   
   
2. Dr. Joe Dispenza, Unlimited – a series of meditations offered to train the body to respond to a new mind. Dr. Dispenza’s meditation help influence the autonomic nervous system to release new chemicals and hormones that support healing (If you decide you are interested in Dr. Joe’s mediations, I highly recommend exploring two of his books  below). *I have read both of Dr. Joe’s books listed below and still practice his meditations weekly – my favourite meditation is “tuning into new potentials” and “blessing of the energy centers."

My perspective on life has completely changed since I began brain retraining. I am so grateful I discovered Annie Hopper and Dr. Joe Dispenza's work and committed myself to improving my health, changing my energy and therefore changing my life.

I am not defined by symptoms, my health or my past. I am infinite and unlimited.