Behavior Change For Your Brain
Every activity you engage in will signal your brain and nervous system to release chemicals and hormones; cortisol, insulin, estrogen, testosterone, endorphin, oxytocin, serotonin, dopamine, etc.
Because we all have a unique brain, body composition, blood type, and genetic predisposition, this will determine what lifestyle activities are best for you.
Once you can understand your symptoms, triggers, and headache types, you can utilize Neuroindividuality™ to create a lifestyle that supports your nervous system.
A wonderful serenity
For every activity you are engaged in that supports your brain and nervous system, you increase your chances of mitigating future attacks.
The MENT™ Protocol helps you understand what lifestyle activities are best suited and how to implement them into your life to achieve sustainable transformation.
There is so much noise and information across the internet, creating a challenge in discerning which may be best for you. We designed the Protocol to help you navigate this and apply, so that you can get the results you need and achieve small wins along the way…to get to those big wins that improve your overall quality of life.
We have provided four lifestyle behavior changes to implement that have proven results and help you understand where they show up within the protocol.
1. Growth through Relaxation
Living with a chronic illness is stressful. Understanding how and when to relax can help your brain release chemicals and neurotransmitters to activate your sympathetic nervous system and get out of the flght-or-flight response.
Although migraineurs do not have more daily stress, they do report elevated feelings of depression and anxiety in response to that stress. Compared to controls, migraineurs had greater difficulty relaxing and experienced increased restlessness, and ill feelings during stressful situations.
Within Module 1 and 4 we guide you through the process so that you are not controlled by the stigma and stress associated with chronic illness.
2. Nutrition & Brain Health
Your nutrition will determine your overall brain health. If you consume a diet that is inflammatory, triggers food sensitivities, and/or have nutrient deficiencies, there is little chance you will become truly healthy.
The amount of activity required to live and transition through a chronic illness requires your mind, body, brain, and spirit to be in optimal performance.
Essential nutrients such as Omega-3, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Vitamin B2, and Vitamin B12 are critical for your health. But for true health, your body will need to properly absorb and utilize enzymes, phytonutrients, fiber, amino acids, probiotics, and prebiotics.
We teach and train you how to link your symptoms with imbalances and how to implement nutrient-dense foods to maximize nutrition.
3. Movement & Exercise
What if you experience physical exertion headaches? With so many exercises, what one is best for my brain and body?
When you exercise, it stimulates the brain to release brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a molecule essential for repairing brain cells and creating connections between them. This is a critical component in long-term sustainable health.
But, despite all of the benefits, choosing the right exercise was reported as one of the most difficult tasks in creating a healthy lifestyle.
Within the protocol, we help you understand how to reduce the nervous system stimuli and how to integrate exercise your symptoms and headache types.
4. Mindfulness & CBT
Your brain and mind have learned to cope through sickness. There is no doubt migraine changes the way you think and act.
In April 1937, Wolff described the “migraine personality” as a set of psychological features including social phobias, anxiety, and depression [11]. Studies have supported the association of migraine and comorbid mental health conditions [12, 13, 14].
Migraineurs have an increase in lifetime rates of anxiety disorders and depression [15] proving to be another opportunity for misdiagnosis. As the stigma and isolation become more consistent, migraineurs often turn to social media for connection which unfortunately may exacerbate symptoms [16, 17] or contribute to anxiety-related dizziness [18].
Through specific exercises in in Modules 1 & 4, you will understand how your migraine brain processes thoughts, feelings, and stimuli. This will help you recognize how and when to implement techniques to mitigate attacks in real time.
Dr. Deborah Carver-Hodges, MD.
Harvard Health Letter. (2017). Better habits, better brain health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/better-habits-better-brain-health
Wachholtz, A. & Pargament, K. Migraines and meditation: does spirituality matter? J Behav Med (2008) 31:351–366 DOI 10.1007/s10865-008-9159-2
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