At re-origin, we’ve helped thousands of people overcome symptoms of chronic health conditions by learning to calm the limbic system. Learn more about the re-origin program here.
What are the Major Functions of the Limbic System?
The limbic system is responsible for processing emotions, forming memories, and maintaining physiological balance. When it becomes overworked, the body may remain in a heightened state of alert, which can contribute to fatigue, difficulty focusing, and emotional instability. These patterns are often the root cause of diseases of the limbic system and related functional disturbances.[1].
What Happens When the Limbic System Malfunctions?
Individuals with an overactive limbic system may experience chronic stress, mood swings, irritability, or difficulty regulating emotions. While these signs do not always indicate a specific condition, they can point to underlying limbic system impairment. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to create new neural pathways, helping to restore balance and calm.
Common Disorders Resulting from Limbic System Impairment
Several of the most common health conditions that people experience can be tied back to an overworked limbic system. When it isn’t operating how it’s meant to, it can create a domino effect throughout the body, affecting entire bodily systems such as the immune and digestive systems.
Anxiety and Depression
With an estimated 18% of the American population suffering from anxiety and another 9.5% that experience depression, anxiety and depression are two of the most predominant mental health disorders in the world[2]. These mental illnesses do not only affect the mind, as most people that live with them experience physical symptoms as well such as appetite issues, insomnia, headaches, and fatigue. When the limbic system is overactivated and trapped in a consistent stress response cycle, the result is often anxiety and depression. Studies suggest that the heightened levels of cortisol in the body from the malfunctioning limbic system play a large role in cases of anxiety and depression[3].
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
When the nervous system becomes conditioned to overactive the sympathetic branch, the body’s resources may be allocated away from long term functions such as detoxification, tissue repair, digestion, and immune and endocrine system functions – in favor of should term inflammatory activity. Over time, this can place excess stress on the body, leaving the person feeling drained of energy. Furthermore, the part of the brain that regulates emotions can become depleted of natural “feel-good” chemicals such as dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins, leading the person to feel flat or depressed. Fortunately, their is neuroscience data and tons of anecdotal evidence to suggest that the dysfunction can be reversed, and those suffering from CFS and anxiety disorders can recover the function of the autonomic nervous system which results in homeostasis.
Addiction
In many cases, addiction can be tied back to a malfunctioning limbic system. The feelings of motivation, pleasure, and reward are connected to the limbic system, which is why addiction can be related to an impairment here[6]. When certain drugs are regularly used, there is a rush of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which provides us with the sensation of reward. The brain becomes dependent on addictive substances and starts associating them with survival, however there is a solution to this negative relationship with addictive substances, brain rewiring. It’s suggested that through introducing cognitive modifications, it’s possible to overcome addiction. The neurons in the brain can be restructured to stop depending on addictive substances when the appropriate training methods are applied, putting an end to the destructive limbic loop.
Dementia
Dementia is a condition that is characterized by memory loss, confusion, disorientation, and mood swings. Neural connections within the brain, namely the limbic system, can begin to deteriorate as a result of trauma, depression, and genetic predispositions[4]. It’s understood that there are no known cures for dementia and that essential neurotransmitters that play a major role in memory retention (i.e., acetylcholine) are diminished in those that are suffering from this degenerative illness. While this may be the case, scientific evidence does suggest that early intervention and the application of neuroplasticity training can help delay the progression of cognitive decline[2].
How to Calm & Rewire The Limbic System
Regular practice of neuroplasticity exercises can calm an overactive limbic system, prune harmful neural connections, and strengthen new beneficial pathways. Evidence supports the use of brain training to manage limbic system diseases and other disorders of limbic system function. By retraining the brain to recognize safety, the body can return to homeostasis, allowing both mental and physical calm to emerge naturally.
Even when facing limbic system impairment, consistent practice with structured programs like those offered by re-origin can help restore balance and break the cycles of chronic stress.
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There is Hope for Healing Your Limbic System
re-origin is a community that is dedicated to helping anyone that struggles with a wide range of chronic health issues through science-backed neuroplasticity training. We’re here to offer support, guidance, and answers that you have likely not found anywhere else. It’s completely possible to rewire the brain from making you feel constantly stressed, worried, and overall unwell to balanced, healthy, and in control again. You’re capable of so much more than you may realize, and we’re here to assist you with harnessing these capabilities each and every step of the way. Learn more about the re-origin program here.
