Do you know that by learning new things you are actually changing the structure of your own brain? This amazing ability of the human brain to change itself according to new experiences and new knowledge is called Neuroplasticity.

Every time we learn something new we change the connections of neurons (brain cells) and even whole neuronal pathways. Every time we change our environment - we change the structure of the brain. Every time we change our behaviour -we create significant changes in our brain.

These changes can be good, but can be bad also; it all depends on the nature of the experiences, like changing your environment but most importantly our perception of the experience of the change, plus the environment.

Every event we experience can leave permanent memory traces in our brain thus change the brains structure.

For example, a teenager girl who was exposed to skinny celebrity images can become dissatisfied with her own body image and then develop an eating disorder. In this example she learned that skinny celebrities are considered to be beautiful. Then she automatically created a new negative experience for herself by comparing her own body with the celebrity's body. She wasn't as skinny as the person on TV, thus she became dissatisfied with herself. The final result of this mental -emotional process is significant changes to the neuronal structures in her brain. These irrational thoughts become new faulty neuronal pathways that are then responsible for her developing an eating disorder.

Fortunately, all these traumatic memories are not written down in stone, or "engraved", to remain unchanged forever. Luckily we can change these faulty structures by subsequent events and re-transcribe it, then change it to new more constructive thought processes.

All the experiences or events (like dissatisfaction with yourself, emotional trauma etc.) can take on new different meanings later on in life and again we can learn to change the structure of the brain to the better.
We can direct the changes in our brain to the better by using a process called "self-directed neuroplasticity". "Self-directed neuroplasticity" means re-transcription and changing underlying neuronal networks and associated memories and emotions by yourself for yourself.

People with eating disorders, anxiety, depression and the like can help themselves to improve their own lives by using the "self-directed neuroplasticity" approach at any stage of the disease. Of course, if you have had an eating disorder for 10 years or more it will be more difficult to change the brain then if you had it for 5 years, but this also depends a lot on your determination and desire to change.

People who have determination and a desire to change can create the positive emotions that are needed for change, and these emotions will help them to re-transcribe the faulty neuronal pathways faster and easier. But if you resist the change and lack determination then you will remain a sufferer with faulty neuronal pathways until you consciously get to the point that you must change. Or when you get to the point where it is more painful to stay with the disorder, than it is to change: this point is normally reached when a number of medical problems arrive from the abuse of their body over the years.

The idea that the brain can change its own structure and function through new activities, thoughts and new behaviours is amazing and brings much hope for mental and emotional disorder sufferers. These include eating disorders, anxiety, depression, compulsive disorders, addictions and other stress related problems.

"Teach Your Mind to Cure Your Brain" is a term that tells you simply, if you learn to teach your mind new positive things you can change the structure of your brain for the better as well. If you learn the right methods then you can improve and even cure your brain from many disorders. It is really only up to you whether you stick with the old destructive thoughts or change to new better ones: is it your choice?




Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Irina_Webster