From Bedridden to Empowered: One Woman’s DNRS Healing Journey
After spending years nearly bedridden with chronic illness, debilitating sensitivities, and emotional despair, Stephenie found a new path through the Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS). What began as a desperate attempt to heal her food sensitivities became a profound journey toward self-trust, nervous system regulation, and full-bodied empowerment.
A Life Defined by Illness and Despair
Before beginning the DNRS program, her world had become impossibly small. She spent most of her time in bed, overwhelmed by pain, fatigue, and hopelessness. Thoughts of suicide were constant companions. From early childhood, she had unknowingly shown signs of limbic system impairment — deep loneliness, anxiety, emotional overwhelm, and chronic physical symptoms such as rashes, sinus inflammation, and heart palpitations.
As she grew older, her health continued to unravel. She was diagnosed with endometriosis, chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) from mold exposure, and chronic Lyme disease — conditions that left her weak, isolated, and unable to eat most foods. Even water sometimes made her vomit. Life felt unlivable.
Discovering DNRS and Finding the Missing Piece
A friend mentioned DNRS, recalling how it had helped her overcome food sensitivities. Skeptical but desperate, she looked up the program and discovered “Wired for Healing” by Annie Hopper. At first, she resisted spending even a penny more on another “solution,” but after reading the free sample on Amazon, she felt compelled to continue.
The words resonated deeply. Reading the book gave her goosebumps — validation that others had experienced the same mysterious combination of physical and emotional symptoms. When she reached the self-assessment section and realized she met every criterion for limbic system impairment, everything clicked.
With her background as a somatic and mental health psychotherapist, the science behind DNRS made perfect sense. It tied together everything she had learned about trauma and the nervous system but introduced one crucial missing element — the brain’s role in healing.
Early Shifts and Renewed Hope
Though it took months to complete the program due to cognitive impairment, she noticed improvements even before mastering the techniques. The most profound early shift was the disappearance of her suicidal thoughts and depression. For the first time in years, life felt possible.
Encouraged, she sought one-on-one coaching and later joined a DNRS group class. Initially doubtful that group coaching could meet her needs, she quickly discovered how powerful it was to learn from others. The sense of connection and mutual encouragement not only accelerated her recovery but also helped her rebuild trust and safety in relationships — healing the relational wounds left by complex PTSD.
Rediscovering Joy and Connection
From there, she joined the Share-A-Laugh classes, which reignited her creativity and playfulness. What once felt “silly” or wasteful became profoundly healing. These sessions helped her counter the brain’s negativity bias and relearn joy.
Her participation in the Global Community Forum became another milestone. Sharing tips, celebrating others’ wins, and offering encouragement gave her a sense of purpose and belonging.
A Life Reclaimed
As her nervous system stabilized, her physical health flourished. Foods that once caused severe reactions were reintroduced without issue. She regained energy, took long walks, and even paddleboarded for over five miles. Sensitivities to mold, sound, and vibration disappeared.
Once unable to enter buildings, she began attending rock concerts — including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, the loudest concert she had ever experienced as a teen. Her world expanded again: she traveled internationally, drove through Mexico despite not speaking Spanish, and even inspired her mother to join her on transatlantic travel for the first time.
Empowerment and Sovereignty
If she could summarize her DNRS experience in two words, they would be empowerment and sovereignty. Through the program, she regained her power to heal, her trust in her body, and her belief in what’s possible.
DNRS didn’t just help her recover from illness — it gave her tools for life. She knows that no matter what challenges arise in the future, she has the capacity and knowledge to stay balanced, healthy, and free.
“This program reminded me of my own autonomy and strength. I now have the tools I need to heal — and I know I’ll never have to go back to where I was before.”
