So, read on, if that is what you after!
What is the Gupta Program?
The Gupta program was founded by Ashok Gupta. It is an online brain retraining program that hinges on the concept of neuroplasticity.
This program aims to relieve the symptoms of, or to cure what the founder, Ashok, terms as “Neuro-immune conditioned syndromes”.
These syndromes include
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS),
- Fibromyalgia,
- Chronic pain,
- Anxiety disorders,
- Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS),
- IBS, etc.
The cause of these syndromes or conditions is yet unknown or uncertain. They are often difficult to diagnose. Physicians tend to carry out a series of tests to rule out possible medical conditions before they accurately diagnose these conditions. Sadly, many doctors misdiagnose them too.
People who have these conditions often think that they are imagining their ailments. People tend to misunderstand or wave off their complaints as “imaginary”. That is how complex these sets of conditions are.
I mentioned earlier that the program hinges on the concept of “neuroplasticity”. Well, neuroplasticity is our brain’s ability to rewire or re-engineer itself by forming new neural connections. It means that our brain can change the way it functions and also the way it is physically, over time.
It also means that our brain can change in the face of disease, environmental factors, behavior, experiences, and emotions. This concept of brain rewiring is a new area of study that holds a lot of promise; therefore, research is still undergoing.
Ashok Gupta believes strongly in this concept of “brain retraining”, and hence that’s the foundation of his program.
How Does the Gupta Program Work?
This program incorporates the following:
- Up to 15 interactive video sessions.
These videos were shot on the healing nature of Switzerland.
- Highly trained coaches for one on one counseling.
This aids in personalized healing as the same conditions don’t have the same symptoms. Some of the coaches suffered from the disease themselves!
- Audio exercises, meditations, etc.
- Weekly teachings or webinar by Ashok Gupta himself
You can ask him questions and also get support from him.
- It has an online community for support and advice.
You also get to realize that you are not the only one suffering from these conditions.
- Further advice on nutrition, sleep, pacing, etc.
The program uses the following treatment approaches:
- breath work,
- timeline therapy,
- parts’ therapy, etc.
We will look at the aspects of the Gupta program for specific conditions now.
The Gupta Program for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
First Of All, What is CFS?
It is a condition characterized by chronic (long term) fatigue. The cause of this fatigue is uncertain, and it is still present even after sleep.
Other names for this long-term condition are, Myalgic encephalomyelitis (or ME) or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (or SEID).
According to the USA Center for Disease Control, it stated that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reported that around 836,000 to 2.5 million US citizens suffer from CFS. Also, about 90% have not yet been diagnosed.
What is the Cause?
As mentioned earlier, the cause of this disease is uncertain or unknown. However, scientists are saying that some people are born with a predisposition for this disorder, which is then triggered by several factors like:
- Environmental agents.
- Hormonal fluctuations.
- Viral diseases or infections.
Some infections of viral origins have been reported by scientists to trigger CFS. Some of the viruses are Mouse leukemia virus, Human Herpesvirus 6, etc.
- Impaired immune system.
When our immune system (a system that helps fight off disease or foreign agents in our body) is abnormally low or faulty.
What are the Risk Factors of CFS?
- Age
CFS can occur in all age groups, but it is more predominant in people within 40-50 years of age, or even above.
- Stress
It can trigger or cause CFS.
- Gender
Women are more likely to experience CFS than men.
What are the Symptoms of CFS?
They are:
- Lack of concentration or trouble focusing.
- Inflamed lymph nodes at the armpit or neck area
- Temporary memory loss
- Feeling of fatigue even after rest or sleep
- Recurring sore throat
- Headaches
- Unfavorable reaction to exercise
- Chronic fatigue
- Irregular sleep patterns
Ashok Gupta believes that in the case of CFS, that two-parts’ of the brain, the amygdala, and insula, are involved.
The amygdala is the part of the brain that regulates the body’s flight or fight response (stress response or sympathetic response). The insula is for conditioned immune response.
These two-part of the brain (amygdala and insula) are stuck in a loop of constant hyperactivity and stimulation. This depletes the body’s energy causing the inflammation and pain of specific regions of the body or the whole body. It can also lead to exhaustion, brain fog, etc.
The Gupta Program For Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic neurological condition that causes widespread pain all over the body. This condition alters or changes the way our brain processes pain. It makes us more vulnerable to pain or touch.
This condition is often described as deep bone fatigue and pain.
This condition is common, often affecting 2% to 4% of people all over the world. According to the National Fibromyalgia Association (NFA) and the Chronic Pain Association, this condition also affects approximately 10 million people in the United States of America. They also stated that the occurrence of this disease is higher in women than in men.
What are the Symptoms?
They are:
- Irregular sleep pattern and other abnormalities like sleep apnea (cessation of breath during sleep)
- Stabbing pain in the muscles, connective tissues, and bone. It can also manifest as muscle stiffness.
- Extreme fatigue or tiredness.
That commonly doesn’t go away even after rest or sleep.
- Mood disorders.
Like anxiety, depression, etc
- Fibromyalgia can occur together with other disease condition like arthritis etc.
- Memory loss
- Migraines
- Tingling or numb arm and feet
- Inattentiveness
- Etc.
What Can Cause Fibromyalgia? Or, What are the Risk Factors?
Like CFS, the cause of this condition is hazy. However, here are the factors scientists said may be the possible cause of this disease.
- Psychological Stress.
This is a known trigger of fibromyalgia.
- Gender
- Traumas
- Low serotonin (brain hormone) levels
- Genetics
If any of your relatives have fibromyalgia, there is a chance you may have it or get it later in life.
How The Gupta Program Handles Fibromyalgia?
The program believes that in fibromyalgia, the two parts’ of the brain (amygdala and insula) are stuck in a loop of constant hyperactivity and stimulation. This depletes the body’s energy causing the inflammation and pain of specific regions of the body or the whole body. It can also lead to exhaustion, brain fog, etc.
The Gupta Program for Chronic Pain Syndrome
When something is amiss, our body alerts us through the pain. This pain disappears or stops once the injury is healed, or when our body recovers. However, sometimes, this pain persists even after the cause of the pain, has been addressed or has healed. It may also develop secondary complications.
This condition of long term pain with other symptoms is called “chronic pain syndrome”. This pain lasts for 3 to 6 months or even more.
This condition is like pure torture to the person suffering from it. And, it can lead to loss of interest in social activities, depression, anxiety, etc.
According to research, about 25% of people who suffer from chronic pain often graduate to chronic pain syndrome.
What is the Cause?
Like the two conditions mentioned earlier, the cause of chronic pain syndrome is uncertain. However, it can arise initially from any of the following:
- Nerve damage
- Bone and muscle sprains or strains
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Inflammatory bowel syndrome or disease (IBS or IBD)
- Acid reflux
- fibromyalgia
- Headaches
- Surgery
- Etc.
What are the Symptoms?
The symptoms and intensity of this condition may vary among individuals.
Here are they:
- Exhaustion
- Low back pain
- Loss of sexual drive
- Insomnia
- Subsequent drug and alcohol abuse
- Sleep irregularities
- Burning pain in different areas of the body
- Migraines
- Sudden sharp pain
- Aches
- Mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
For the program, chronic pain follows the same pattern as in fibromyalgia.
The Gupta Program for Anxiety Disorders
Everybody feels anxious about something at some point. This feeling is normal. It is our body’s way of alerting us to possible hurdles, problems, dangers, etc. ahead.
However, when this normal feeling becomes excessive, that is, when we feel excessive fear, uneasy, anxiety, then this is now a disorder. This disorder is often ‘mental’ and can cause an exaggerated response or reactions to things or situations.
What is the Cause of this Anxiety Disorder?
The cause is yet unknown, but some factors can predispose one to have this condition. These can be:
- Genetic factors.
It may run in families.
- Environmental factors
- Psychological factors.
E.g. stress
There are several types of anxiety disorders, e.g. social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, and other types of phobia, etc.
How Does the Gupta Program Work on Anxiety Disorders?
According to the Gupta Program, there are several brain structures involved in the case of an anxiety disorder. These structures are the amygdala, insula, and the hippocampus, and their abnormal hyperactivity results in the symptoms of anxiety.
Especially the amygdala, which is in a constant loop of hyper-arousal, which leads to emotional reactivity, depression, panic attacks, etc. plays a part here. Cortisol (stress hormone) and other neurotransmitters are released in this state also leading to emotional liabilities and feelings of vulnerability according to Mr Gupta.
Does the Gupta Program Work?
This is the major question people ask. Our research suggests that ‘it depends on the individual’. However, there are positive testimonies by people who have used it, on how this program has helped them.
What is the Content of the Gupta Program?
The online program is divided into the following 4 sections.
- Course sessions
- Audio exercises
- Meditations
- Personality parts’
The course sessions contain the following outlines:
- How To Use The Gupta Program
- Introduction To Meditation
- Explanation Of The Condition
- Getting Ready To Retrain the Brain
- The Main 7-Step Brain Retraining Technique
- The 7 Main Attitudes For Success
- Relaxing The Nervous System: This includes Pacing, Diet, Sleep & Nature
- The Gupta Program Accelerator Technique
- Mindfulness & Pacing
- Re-engaging With Joy & Summary Of The Tools
- Retraining Our Parts For Self-Love
- Retraining Our Protector Parts
- Integration Of Parts For Health & Happiness
- Handling People And Situations: The New Groove Technique
- Getting Back Into Normal Life for Health And Happiness
The audio exercises contain the following outline:
- Worried Part Technique
- Instructions For 5 Visualizations
- 5 Visualizations Exercise
- The Full 7-Step Stop-Stop-Stop Process
- The Short Version
- The Gupta Program Accelerator
- Mindful Moment
- The New Groove Technique
- Who Do I Choose To Be?
- Inner Child Strengthener
The meditations comprise:
- Introductory Meditation
- Soften and Flow Meditation
- Body Meditation
- Peace Meditation
- Contentment Meditation
- Compassion Meditation
- Music-Free Meditation
- Surrender Meditation
- Waves Of Healing Meditation
- Getting Back To Sleep Meditation
The personalities part comprises:
- Retraining the Achiever
- Retraining the Helper
- Retraining the Approval Seeker
- Retraining the Safety Seeker
- Retraining the Inner Critic
- Retraining Protector #1
- Retraining Protector #2
- Integration of Parts Exercise
What are the Pros of the Gupta Program?
- It is an online program, which also means you can access the course anywhere and through any device.
- Weekly webinar with the founder, Mr Gupta, is a valuable opportunity and shows his commitment to the program he created.
- Online community for support
- The one-year refund policy
- The course is self-paced
What are the Cons of This Program?
- To get to the next outline in the meditation part, it requires you to reload the page. This often takes minutes to reload or hang, and it shouldn’t be.
- The subscription fee only lasts for a year, and it requires renewal for you to use for another year
Final Words
The Gupta Program is an innovative and non-invasive approach for the treatment of chronic diseases.
This program incorporates treatment approaches like parts’ therapy, coaching, meditations, etc., and comes with even advice on nutrition, diet, and sleep.
It is a program worth trying, and even if it doesn’t work for you, there is the one-year refund policy to take advantage of.
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