Retrain Your Brain | Nervous System Regulation, Chronic Illness Healing, Brain Retraining Support

EP 8 // What to Do During a Symptom Flare (So You Don’t Spiral or Lose Hope)

Symptom flares can feel like a punch to the gut, especially when you’ve been doing everything “right.” They can make you question your progress, your body, and your entire healing journey. But what if a flare didn’t mean you were failing? What if it was actually a sign that your brain is learning something new?In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly what to do (and what not to do) during a flare. You’ll learn how to shift your response in a way that keeps you out of fear loops and actually moves your healing forward…even when things feel like they’re getting worse.This is for you if you’ve ever felt blindsided by a flare, stuck in overanalysis, or afraid that your symptoms mean you’ve done something wrong.
💡 This episode will help you:
Break the spiral of panic, fear, and overthinking during flares
Understand why flares happen (and why they don’t mean failure)
Learn a new way to respond that builds resilience and safety in the brain
Feel empowered, even in the messy moments of healing
It’s time to stop letting flares derail your progress and start using them as fuel for transformation.DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES: 💫 Somatic Healing Tools FREE CHEAT SHEET✨ Healing from Mold Sensitivity FREE GUIDE 🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my FREE 30-minute training HERE. 📲 Follow on Instagram: @abodehealingco 🗓 Currently brain retraining and looking for 1-1 support? Apply for private coaching and schedule a free 30 min consult with Katie HERE.*(*For those who have already gone through a brain retraining program or are planning to start in the near future) 🌐 Learn more at: abodehealingco.com 📩 Email me: hello@abodehealingco.com

EP 7 // The Real Reason You Got Sick: A New Way to Understand Chronic Illness and Pain

What really causes chronic illness? What if the true root of chronic illness isn’t what you’ve been told? In this episode of the Retrain Your Brain podcast, I’m breaking down one of the most misunderstood topics in the chronic illness world: what actually causes illness to begin—and why it keeps going long after the original trigger is gone.We’ll explore how the brain and body become primed for illness, the role of the Cell Danger Response, and how neuroscience is reshaping the way we think about healing. If you’ve ever wondered how you got here (or how to get out), this episode will give you a powerful new lens to view your symptoms—and your recovery.Whether you’re just beginning your healing journey or have tried everything under the sun, this episode offers clarity, validation, and hope.🎧 Press play for a deep dive you won’t hear anywhere else.DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES
🎧 EP 3 // How to Retrain Your Brain FOR FREE in 15 Minutes a Day!💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE🧠 New to brain retraining? Watch my free 30-min training: WATCH HERE📲 Follow along on Instagram: @abodehealingco💻 Already brain retraining and looking for more support? Apply for 1-1 coaching HERE! 📩 Questions or feedback? Email me: Katie@abodehealingco.com

EP 6 // Struggling to Stay Consistent With Brain Retraining? How to Overcome Resistance! PART 2

You want to be consistent with your brain retraining practice… but somehow, resistance keeps getting in the way. Sound familiar?
In this episode, we’re diving into 3 deeper reasons you might be struggling to follow through—and what to do about it. You’ll learn how "protective parts" (from an IFS perspective), demand avoidance, and the nervous system freeze state can all contribute to lowering motivation and increasing resistance … and how to move through it gently and effectively.
This episode is packed with practical tools, mindset shifts, and compassion-centered strategies to help you support your brain and build momentum—without forcing, pushing, or shaming yourself. If you’ve ever felt like you just can’t make yourself do the thing (even though you know it helps), this one’s for you.
🎧 This is Part 2 of a 2-part series on resistance. Make sure to check out Episode 5 first if you haven’t already!
DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:
💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more? Watch my FREE 30-minute training on what brain retraining is and why it works:👉 Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/applyVisit us at abodehealingco.com for more resources to help you on your journey.💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at Katie@abodehealingco.com—I’d love to hear from you!

EP 5 // Struggling to Stay Consistent With Brain Retraining? How to Overcome Resistance! PART 1

Struggling to stay consistent with your brain retraining practice? Feeling unmotivated and ALLLL the resistance? Honey, you are NOT alone! 
If you’ve ever thought, "I know brain retraining works, so why the poop can’t I just make myself do it?!" — this episode is for you.
In this episode, we’re talking all about resistance — why it shows up, what it really means, and how to move through it with compassion and clarity. Whether you’re ghosting your practice altogether or just struggling to stay consistent, I’ll walk you through practical shifts and creative strategies that will get your brain on board and enable you start showing up in a way that feels doable and aligned! Wahoo! 
This episode is especially for the high achiever, the perfectionist, or the recovering overthinker (hi, I see you!) who wants to retrain their brain without burning out.
DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more? Watch my FREE 30-minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness!👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/applyVisit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at katie@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

EP 4 // How to Get Better Results From Brain Retraining: 7 Surprising Tips That Will Change Everything!

Ready to elevate your brain retraining skills so that you can see even better results? Maybe you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or like you’re missing something… even though you’re doing “all the right things.”
In this episode, I’m sharing 7 surprising tips that most brain retrainers aren’t aware of—insights that can change the way you approach your practice and help you start seeing the progress you’ve been dreaming of. These are the exact strategies I use with my private clients to help them move past plateaus and get real results.
If your brain retraining practice feels stale, confusing, or frustrating, this episode will give you small tweaks to make that will change everything! 
DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:
💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here:
🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0
👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco
Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.
💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at Katie@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

EP 3 // How to Retrain Your Brain FOR FREE in Just 15 Minutes a Day!

Do you feel like retraining your brain is a monumental task? Are you struggling to fit your rewiring practices into your busy schedule? This episode is here to show you that significant progress can be made in just 15 minutes! 
Whether you're overwhelmed by the idea of lengthy sessions or simply don’t know where to start, these 3 short, powerful practices are designed for you. I’m teaching you the exact practices you need to retrain your brain in 15 minutes a day and by the end of this episode you’ll be ready to start rewiring your brain for health! 
IN THIS EPISODE:
Efficient Brain Retraining Techniques: Quick and impactful methods to retrain your brain that fit into any schedule.
Daily Integration Tips: How to incorporate brain retraining into your day.
Real-Life Success Stories: Results from my clients and my own life! 
 
DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:
💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0
👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco
👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/applyVisit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.
💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at Katie@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

EP 2 // 5 Ways You’re Training Your Brain for Stress (And What to Do Instead)

You are already training your brain every single day—but are you choosing the program?
In this episode I explain the surprising truth about how your daily habits are literally rewiring your brain for either stress or peace. Without even realizing it, many of us are unintentionally programming our minds to stay in fight-or-flight mode!
I walk you through 5 common habits you might be doing right now that are training your brain for anxiety and stress. But don't worry! For each stress trigger, I share a simple, practical switch you can make today to start retraining your brain for calm instead.
Discover how your amygdala (your brain's threat detector) gets confused by modern life and learn powerful techniques to help it become less reactive and more resilient!
Whether you're dealing with chronic stress or simply want to boost your overall wellbeing, this episode offers game-changing insights that will transform how you feel every day.
Stay tuned until the end—there’s a surprising tip that’s super easy to implement!..
DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:
💫 Somatic Healing Tools Freebie: DOWNLOAD HERE 🧠 New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0
👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco
👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/applyVisit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.
💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at Katie@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!
 

EP 1 // My Chronic Illness & Brain Retraining Story - How I healed from CIRS, CFS, MCS, MCAS, and more!

Welcome to the first episode of the Retrain Your Brain Podcast. I'm your host, Katie Nickerson, a trauma-informed brain retraining coach! I’m kicking things off today by diving into my own story of navigating a decade of complex chronic illness and finding incredible healing through brain retraining. This isn't just about my recovery; it's about showing you the incredible power your brain holds and how you can harness it to transform your health and life.
In this episode I'm peeling back the curtain on my journey through debilitating chronic pain, severe chronic fatigue, CIRS, MCS, food sensitivities, MCAS, and more!  I share my process of searching for answers, the wild treatments that I tried (that didn’t work), and how I FINALLY healed! 
If you're feeling stuck with chronic health issues or traditional treatments have let you down, there's hope! Tune in now for a dose of encouragement and science-backed solutions! 
.DIVE DEEPER // RESOURCES:
🧠New to brain retraining and want to understand more, watch my FREE 30 minute training that explains what brain retraining is and why it heals chronic illness:  https://view.flodesk.com/pages/641a42cadc3789176b6944d0
👉Connect with Katie on IG: @abodehealingco 
👩‍💻 Already brain retraining and Interested in 1-1 coaching? Apply here: https://abodehealingco.com/apply
Visit us at abodehealingco.com for more information and resources to help you on your way.
💌 Got questions or suggestions? Email me at Katie@abodehealingco.com. I love hearing from you!

The Retrain Your Brain Podcast - Official TRAILER

Welcome to the Retrain Your Brain podcast where you will find a neuroscience-based approach to help you heal from chronic illness and complex trauma (without the expensive and restrictive protocols!). My mission is to teach you real, effective strategies like brain retraining, somatic exercises, and trauma healing tools to help you heal at the deepest level - no more surface-level temporary fixes!
About Your Host:
Katie Nickerson is a trauma-informed brain retraining coach who recovered from severe chronic illness including ME/CFS, CIRS, mold, chemical and food sensitivites, SIBO, MCAS and more through the power of neuroplasticity. After her recovery, Katie has dedicated herself to helping others understand and implement brain retraining techniques to address their own chronic symptoms.
Connect With Katie:
Website: https://abodehealingco.com/
Instagram: @abodehealingco 
Email: hello@abodehealingco.com
Coming Up Next: 
Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss our first full episode releasing on Tuesday, March 11! 
Resources:
Coaching: Looking for 1-1 support to guide you through the brain retraining journey? Apply for coaching and schedule your free Discovery Call to see if you’re a good fit for coaching with Katie
New to brain retraining? Watch this free training to understand the science of chronic symptoms and the basics of brain retraining.
4 Steps to Retrain Your Brain Around Mold - Free Guide! Download it HERE! 
My Free Somatic Healing Cheat Sheet: Download it HERE! 
Healing Mold Sensitivity Course: https://abodehealingco.com/healingfrommold