MCS Recovery

Version 1.3 – December 2014

Author* Els Valkenburg recovered 100% from

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity with the
Gupta Amygdala Retraining

* Her published books (still available):

• Understanding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (English)
• Als Chemische Stoffen en Geuren je Ziek maken (Dutch)
• MCS - Wenn chemische Substanzen und Duftstoffe krank machen (Ger)

• Reiki Explained (English) NEW

• Het ABC van Reiki (Dutch)
• Der Reiki Ratgeber (German)

1
 MCS Recovery
Content: Questions & Answers (#45 new question added)

1) Els, you are saying that you are 100% cured, how is that possible?
2) How did you find the programme?
3) Why did you start to do it?
4) How did you like the training sessions?
5) What is the Gupta Programme in your own words?
6) Is this training ‘fear’ based?
7) Did you find negative responds from MCS patients on this training?
8) Did you immediately commit yourself to this training?
9) How long did the programme take?
10) How did you deal with the fumes from the book and floor map?
11) How did you adjust the programme to your MCS situation?
12) Did you use all of his techniques? |
13) What else did you do during that training?
14) Did you have food and emf sensitivities?
15) Aren’t we definitely damaged by chemicals?
16) Doesn’t the amygdala get calm by itself in time?
17) How fast did you notice the first changes?
18) Didn’t you have any doubts?
19) What is your advice to people who are starting the programme?
20) How did you expose yourself to chemicals again?
21) How do I adjust the A. training specific to MCS and EHS etc.?
22) Did you simply follow the standard wording of the A. training?
23) How do I notice my amygdala is firing off?
24) Did you use the accelerator technique?
25) Did you work also with other techniques besides Gupta?
26) You withdraw yourself from the MCS world for a while, why is that?
27) Is a personal coach helpful?
28) Where do I find other people who did the programme?
29) How do I deal with tough moments?
30) What if somebody does not have energy at all and is bed ridden?
31) Do you need to spend much time daily on this training?
32) But what if I do not have the time and/or energy to study this programme?
33) How about working on personal issues with the programme?
34) What do I wrong if I still have bad reactions after an exposure?
35) Do I need to do the Gupta Programme permanently?
36) What can I do more if I do not feel big improvements after 6 months?
37) What if I will not have any results at all?
38) Did you hear about others who recovered from MCS?
39) Do you use any regular medicine?
40) Do you still have reactions after a year?
41) How is your sense of smell doing now?
42) How does it feel to be back in the world?
43) Are you going to use chemical products again?
44) Are you available as personal coach for others?
45) Why do some MCS patients not succeed as fast or complete as others? NEW
46) Where do I find more information (web links)?

2
 MCS Recovery
A few years after the publishing of my MCS books I am fully recovered from MCS (in the year
2011) with the Gupta Amygdala Retraining Program. Via this document I like to share my
experiences. Hopefully it can be of help, an inspiration or a motivation for you to go on and
not to give up!! Please read as well the updates I have made in this document in July 2014!

First read these two important notes:

► Please do not copy (or change) the text or photos without my permission.

► For the record: I emphasize that I have no commercial interest in the specified method of healing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1) Els, you are saying that you are 100% cured from MCS, how is that possible?

I have done the Gupta brain retraining for almost a year. That helped me fully recover from
MCS.

2) How did you find the programme?

First I received information about the training of Annie Hopper, but she only gave seminars
and did not have DVD’s for doing the training at home. At that time I was not able to get out
of the house to go to a seminar! I have found the Gupta programme through Facebook.

3) Why did you start to do it?

o Because of the many positive testimonials, I started it. What did I have to loose? I just
gave it the benefit of the doubt and went 100% for it. If it doesn’t work, it won’t hurt
either, was one of my first thoughts.
o Because the website of Ashok Gupta said that the training is NOT like Cognitive
Behavioural Therapy, Reverse Therapy, Psychotherapy, Positive Thinking, Basic
Relaxation, Hypnosis or Hypnotherapy etc. I was very sensitive for the “all in the
head” theories and Ashok was very clear about that that is NOT the case in his
approach and that convinced me to go for it.
o Because the price for what you get is very good! In the DVD programme you will

3
 MCS Recovery
receive the following: • 12 “Fully Interactive DVD Sessions” at the Clinic (over 15
hours), with Ashok Gupta • An A4 Book which contains a copy of the script of the
DVDs • An Audio CD with mind exercises to also help “retrain the amygdala” • Etc.
Normally if you go to a seminar, or several times (for months) to a clinic, it costs you
much more money.

4) How did you like the training sessions?

I liked it very much. It felt like I was sitting in his office and that they were private sessions.
The quality is very high. The sessions are built up slowly and the video quality is perfect.
Ashok Gupta speaks clearly and I quickly started to like him. I watched the DVD’s over and
over again and every time I felt really content with this material. One of the positive things is
also that you will get a book with exactly everything printed what has been told (this script is
available in several languages). It is professional study material, suitable for everyone. You
can work on it in your own page and time.

5) What is the Gupta Programme in your own words?

The Gupta programme is created for ME/CFS and
Fibromyalgia patients, but works also great for MCS.
Because of several causes – like toxic injury, viruses etc.
– the amygdala (which is located in the unconscious
brain) can become oversensitive, with other words: it
remains on ‘high alert’ or stays stuck in overdrive. Then it
gives too many (wrong) signals to your system and that
has many (and in some cases severe) consequences for all kind of processes in your body.
The immune, detoxification and other systems are down regulated during a perceived
emergency state your brain is in, and that once the amygdala is reset to a normal function,
the body systems will go back to normal functioning again.

Detailed information about the amygdala and the programme you will find here:
► A complete free session (session 2) about the amygdala via YouTube:
Watch all these parts to get a more understanding what it is. At the end of this document you will find
the weblinks.

4
 MCS Recovery
► Information via Gupta’s website:
http://www.guptaprogramme.com/causes-of-me/
http://www.guptaprogramme.com/mcs-multiple-chemical-sensitivity-treatment/
► The hypothesis of Ashok Gupta explains about the cause of ME/CFS. Although this is a drug-free
therapy, Ashok clearly states that ME/CFS is a real physical condition, with real physical symptoms.
This is based on his medical paper which was published in a medical journal in 2002. The
explanation is based on the role of a brain structure called the Amygdala, which keeps the body in a
permanent imbalanced state, causing all of the symptoms.
http://www.guptaprogramme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/CFS-HYPOTHESIS-Medical-
Hypotheses-article-copy.pdf
► A one year Observational Clinical Audit Study on 33 patients, and this has shown that 93% of
patients improved, and two-thirds (67%) went on to make a full recovery, or close to that mark. Most
of these patients are now back in full time work.

http://www.guptaprogramme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Amygdala-Retraining-JHH-Sept-
2010.pdf

6) Is this training ‘fear’ based?

This training is NOT fear based, but primarily focused on dealing with the unconscious
responses of the body. And that is totally different than the statement some people make
that it is a matter of conscious fear.

7) Did you find negative responds from MCS patients on this training?
Unfortunately yes. There are some MCS patients who did not do the programme, but are
judging it anyway and in a bad way (and shout that from the roofs). Those – often negative
orientated - people (mis-)use words like ‘fear based’ (see former question) to keep other
MCS patients from doing this programme.
Also some people think it is mind over matter, it is all in your head. That is not true. The
body has in fact been damaged, but it is the brain controlling the responses, not the mind.
You are not thinking or imaging your way to better health, but actually retraining your brain!
These misunderstandings are so sad, because lots of people will stay then in their lonely
vicious (brain) circle and never find their way back to freedom and healing because of that.
STUDY THE MATERIAL YOURSELF WELL BEFORE YOU JUDGE OR BEFORE YOU LET

5
 MCS Recovery
YOURSELF BE NEGATIVELY INFLUENCED BY OTHERS!

8) Did you immediately commit yourself to this training?

On 2010 June 27th I started the training and made a ‘contract’ with myself to give it for at
least six months the benefit of the doubt. Nothing would disturb this process, was my
decision. The 27th of December I was officially done and we celebrated it in a restaurant,
enjoying a lovely X-mas diner! An incredible step forward.

9) How long did the programme take?

12 Sessions feels like a lot, but I took the time and studied the material for weeks/months in
a row. No rush, just step by step I was doing the programme. Studying the DVD’s over and
over again until I could ‘dream the information’. I lived 6 years in isolation, I knew it would
take me some time to crawl out of this again. I personally needed more time than 6 months;
I can say after 9 till 12 months I really started to talk about full recovery.

10) How did you deal with the fumes from the book and floor map?
At the start I only worked with the DVD's. Because the floor map and the book I found too
smelly too (the book is only a complete script from everything that has been said on the
DVD's). I took a picture (photo) of the floor map and printed it out on A4 and that paper I put
in an out gassed plastic sheet at that time. I worked without the floor map and instead I held
my own little map (picture on A4 paper) in my hand for practicing. One of the first things I
worked on was being able to read books again and that succeeded. Very soon I could
handle the ink and stuff of printed books, maps etc. Then I could read the Gupta book
unprotected as well (before that I only could read with a respirator).

11) How did you adjust the programme to your MCS situation?
Everywhere Ashok Gupta talked about CFS, I replaced it in my thoughts and on paper with
‘MCS’.* With all of the exercises I worked on the ‘issue’ MCS. You can use the exercises for
ME/CFS/Fibromyalgia and personal issues for example. I only was focused on MCS, that
was my priority number one. I wrote down everything that has to do with MCS, all of my
reactions, my thoughts etc. and worked it step by step out of my system with the main

6
 MCS Recovery
techniques (the A. training – short and long version – 7 steps - was the most important tool
for me). Some MCS reactions I had to work on several times, some of them disappeared
after just one exercise and other reactions just disappeared by themselves or in time,
because of the reason that the amygdala’s became calmer and calmer. It is like peeling an
onion. Layer for layer trying to solve it and getting rid of it until MCS has been worked out of
your system and life completely.
* Update July 2014: Note that Ashok Gupta has added MCS to his program as well. There
are now special sessions about MCS and how to use the program for this.

12) Did you use all of his techniques?

I used the 2 main techniques (A. training + S&F) and the additional techniques I studied and
researched very well. The additional techniques - like for example the meditation techniques
- are very professional and highly effective. However, I already meditated for years
(Transcendental Meditation) and for relaxation and extra energy I used Reiki (see my Reiki
website and book the ABC’s of Reiki about that) and preferred to go on with that. For people
who do not do any relaxation techniques yet in their lives, they really can have much benefit
of the additional techniques. They are easy to learn and do. The guided meditations on CD
and the DVD’s are very pleasant. It is very important to calm the amygdala’s (in every
possible way) and his additional techniques do have this purpose as well, so do not skip
them if you don't have a decent alternative!
http://www.het-abc-van-reiki.nl/en/

13) What else did you do during that training?

I read several scientific books about neural plasticity / rewiring the brain, which helped me to
understand what was going on – going wrong - in my unconscious brain and how that is
affecting my life and health in a negative way. It helped me a lot to understand more about
the brain functions, cells, genes etc.
• The Brain That Changes Itself - Norman Doidge, M.D.
• The Genie in your Genes - Dawson Church, Ph.D
• The Biology of Belief – Dr. Bruce Lipton
• Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself – Dr. Joe Dispenza New

7
 MCS Recovery
14) Did you have food and emf sensitivities?
Yes, I trained it all out of my system. Step by step. I handled my reactions to food and emf
the same way I handled my physical MCS reactions.

15) Aren’t we definitely damaged by chemicals?

When the amygdala is back in its natural state – calm – then the attention of the body will go
back to the other systems. That is why your whole system works better when the amygdala
has been calmed down. My detoxification system is working great. I never had any
poisonous reactions anymore for example. My body just works now as it is supposed to
work. I have never felt this good in my entire life.

16) Doesn’t the amygdala get calm by itself in time?

Ashok Gupta says that when the amygdala is traumatised, it will stay in that mode, until it
has been reprogrammed, trained or ‘told’ that it can rest again. Your amygdala needs to
learn new things and your amygdala really is prone to learn new things. Only this time for
the good. Fortunately the amygdala learns quick end remembers that.

17) How fast did you notice the first changes?

After two weeks of training I already noticed the first little changes and after 6 months
consistently retraining my brains, I did the most normal things again, like shopping at the
supermarket, dining out, visiting friends and family in their home, receive visitors, go into
town, going to parties et cetera. After 9-12 months I actually functioned better than ever
before and started to talk and think about 100% recovery.

18) Didn’t you have any doubts?

Too beautiful to be true I thought. But I made the 'contract' with myself and went 100% for it,
although the doubts were still there in the beginning. After the first little improvements, I
started to become more enthusiastic and slowly I began to gain faith that it would work for
me as well and decided not to let go. Reading the mentioned books helped me to
understand even more what was going on in my brains and cells!

8
 MCS Recovery
19) What is your advice to people who are starting the programme?
Two important words to keep in mind: persistence and consistent. Your brains need to get
the opportunity to make new neuronal pathways (and to have the time and attention to
deepen those new paths, so that they will remain). Therefore it is important to make this
commitment for at least 6 months. You have to go for it 100% and not one day 100% and
another day 1% because of tiredness, bad mood or any other excuse that would undermine
your work. You have to stay conscious and focused on how the amygdala is working and on
the moments it keeps on trying to get your attention. You need to stop its wrong signals all
the time, sometimes with the long version you have learned from the DVD’s and other times
just the short version of the A. training. The S&F exercise really eases a bad reaction very
well and must not be forgotten, but the most important action/step is always to stop your
amygdala first. Do not give it back its power.

Make sure you keep on practicing and watching the DVD’s and study the material over and
over again until you really have found big improvement. After a while it will become so much
easier to stop the amygdala from firing off, it will become an automatic response then.

20) How did you expose yourself to chemicals again?

After doing the training for a while I started to do experiments with relatively safe things at
home. I practiced with reading a printed book, opening the mail, talking to someone at the
door without protection, receiving scented people in our home, going to a store (not the
supermarket yet), went for a drive and so on and on. My husband did not shower anymore
after doing groceries or what so ever and I had to deal with those reactions to the chemicals
in his clothes, hair etc. I even borrowed some sheets from friends, to have some perfumed
cotton at home to work with. I had to do the exercises right away when my husband came
home unsafe for me at that time. But it worked, I got it out of my system!! I just saw all those
(daily) things as exam/study material. I could practice my exercises then. Baby step by baby
step I conquered back the world and my freedom.

21) How do I adjust the A. training specific to MCS and EHS etc.?
You can do the A. training on MCS in several ways. You can work out every reaction
(physical/emotional etc.), belief, fear or thought by dealing with them the same way as if

9
 MCS Recovery
they would be just another regular negative thought Gupta is talking about. MCS (or EHS
etc.) is NOT a matter of negative thinking, but you handle that vicious circle the same way
as other issues named in the programme. You just use the A. training for communication
with your amygdala and unconscious brain. You break the pattern until it is vanished! The
moment you feel or notice any reaction in your body or mind concerning MCS, CFS, EHS,
Fibromyalgia and so on, you IMMEDIATELY do the A. training (long version walk or the
short version in your mind). Every time a reaction starts! (Best is to start as soon as the first
signals are given by the amygdala’s and not to wait until the reaction has become severe).
In the beginning you might be very busy with it and you might have to break conversations,
watching movies or what so ever to do your exercises promptly (I mostly withdrawn myself
to the bedroom to be as much as concentrated as I could be). You even can work with it 'on
purpose' when you are having time and want to practise, like for example using the phrase :
“I am reacting to perfumes (chemicals/gasses/smoke etc.)” and start "the walk and talk (7
steps)". Or use sentences like “I have MCS” Or “This …. (fill in the specific thing what makes
you sick) is making me ill”. Also false or wrong beliefs about the programme itself you can
work out of your unconscious part of the brain. Like: “I do not believe I will ever get better
this way” and let your “future self” motivate you or make you believe that it is going to work
for you as well. Also just breaking a(ny) thought about a symptom helps when doing the
dishes for example! Be consistent and persistence, that is all it needs! And do not forget to
end the exercise in a positive way and with a positive statement (which will send a positive
signal to your brains and cells)!

22) Did you simply follow the standard wording of the A. training?
I used most of the time the standard wording while I was retraining. Of course you can
reword it in your own way/words and adjust it to a specific problem of reaction. But make
sure you keep it as close as possible to the original text to make sure you use the proper
text at the right step.

23) How do I notice my amygdala is firing off?

You can notice that your amygdala is firing off in many ways. Reactions in your body, fears,
negative thoughts, not feeling well etc.etc.
It sometimes even can be experienced in a very subtle way, like a "whisper". The amygdala

10
 MCS Recovery
gives signals to your conscious brain and if you notice signals concerning MCS, than you
know your amygdala is warning you. So you have to stop it and tell it that it does not need to
respond anymore like this. Your conscious knows, but your unconscious must learn it too
and the exercise (the A. training) is perfect to stop it and to make new neural path ways that
way. It is a (brain) communication with the amygdala, you give a message back to it. And
finally it will react as you want it to react.

24) Did you use the accelerator technique?

I bought the DVD and watched it, but I was already doing very well and did not need it
anymore. I can imagine that maybe some people without any results can benefit of this
addition. I already added after a few months another technique what worked pretty well for
me too (and a very quick one as well). See next question.

25) Did you work also with other techniques besides Gupta?
In the book “The Genie in your Genes” from Dawson Church, Ph.D. I found on page 231 a
way of tapping things out of your system. It is called WHEE (Wholistic Hybrid derived from
EMDR and EFT). It is a technique that just takes a few minutes but has a high impact. One
night I was really feeling not well because of MCS I tried this out and in a few minutes that
bad feeling was completely gone. I was totally flabbergasted and decided to adapt this
technique and work with it. I used it for tapping out reactions to food, products and reaction
to smells, fear reactions, physical problems, pain etc. It is a quick and effective tool. I still
work with this on all kind of stuff that has nothing to do with MCS.

If you want to read a special book about this technique, it is called; “Seven minutes to
Natural Pain Release. WHEE for tapping your Pain away”- Daniel J. Benor, MD. The book is
all about dealing with pain, but can be interesting if you want to know all about this method.
Update July 2014: I love working with the Tapping Solution as well! There are several ways
of working with EFT / Tapping. It is a great tool and a perfect addition to the Gupta
programme (not a replacement, make sure you stick to the programme until you are 100%
recovered; avoid “programme/therapeutic tools hopping”).

11
 MCS Recovery
26) You withdraw yourself from the MCS world for a while, why is that?
During the training, you will get the advice to leave (or not being active in) these kind of
communities to only focus on your own healing process. And during that process not to help
others or to let yourself be influenced by others. That is why I have chosen for my recovery
and made it my priority number one. When you are healed it is much easier to be there for
others. That is why I came back and hope that my story will inspire and help others.
Update July 2014: it took me a few years to handle other’s problems (as well).
Now I am doing better and am not negatively influenced anymore by the acts of certain
people. I know where I (and the program) stand(s) for and when people do not want to
believe me/it, that is their choice and life. I only can do the best I can and I am thankful for
the many people who already have read my document and actively are doing something
with it and even in several cases are recovered by now. I only do not understand yet
completely why there are still people not giving it the benefit of the doubt, and are not going
for a total recovery (but maybe with the next update I am doing better on that point too ☺).

27) Is a personal coach helpful?

Yes, that would be very helpful in difficult times (I have educated my husband for being a
good support at my weak moments), but when there is not anyone for you, you can
definitely do this on your own. You have all of the tools and the most import thing you need
to do is the commitment to yourself and your own healing process. Know that you can find
personal coaching via the Gupta training centre as well.
Update July 2014: When you are doubting or thinking about quitting then you should
definitely find a coach, the little extra money is worth every penny. You can decide yourself
how regular you want to have contact (most of the times the contact will be by phone, skype,
internet etc.)

28) Where do I find other people who did the programme?

At Ashok Gupta's website there is an official forum for brain retrainers:
www.guptaprogramme.com/forum

29) How do I deal with tough moments?

Everybody will get difficult moments during those 6 months. A healing process goes with

12
 MCS Recovery
ups and downs. I too had my weak moments, but if you realise that it is temporarily and that
it will get better and better in time, you always have enough power and motivation to go on
and on. Nothing is more important than your health. In time your dips will get less and less
and finally disappear. Accept them as natural parts of this period. If you fall, just get back on
your feet and go on.

Never - ever, ever, ever, ever - give up!

(Winston Churchill)

30) What if somebody does not have energy at all and is bed ridden?
Everybody can do the training in his own page and time. You can do the training also in bed.
Every exercise is adjustable to that.

31) Do you need to spend much time daily on this training?

That will be dependable on your situation. But best thing to do is – especially at the
beginning, the first few weeks – to give it as much time as possible. You have to make time
to study the material and let it sink in. But you can do the exercises when you are at work,
on the bus, during housekeeping, etc. There is no reason thinkable of not doing this for
yourself and own healing process. You can adjust it completely to your own life and time or
integrate the programme completely into your daily life.

32) But what if I do not have the time and/or energy to study this programme?
"No time" is in my eyes a weak excuse for not doing it. You better focus on what you can

13
 MCS Recovery
instead of what you cannot! If "no time" would have been the case in my life, I would have
studied at night if necessary, because what can be more important than your own recovery
from MCS? And besides the fact that you will crawl out of this horrible isolated situation, you
can be even better there for others, your work, your family than if you would not do anything
about your illness and would stay in this vicious circle. But that is my humble personal
opinion… Stop making false excuses!

33) How about working on personal issues with the programme?

You can use the programme for many situations and things in life that are influencing you in
a negative way. I myself choose to make MCS my priority number one, but if personal
issues came along or popped up, I used the same techniques to make sure that it would not
harm me. I worked everything out of my system what had to do with MCS and what made
me different than "normal and healthy people".

34) What do I wrong if I still have bad reactions after an exposure?

I cannot look into others life's and how consistent they are doing the program (it is very
important to study it very well and over and over and over again). My experience is, that I
had to do everything in really SMALL steps. So no exposure for a long time in the beginning
to perfumes, but short moments and then work on it with the A. training. And when I had a
reaction I did the S&F (right away). If your UNconscious still believes it is unsafe, then your
amygdala will continue to fire off. So it needs more time and attention and maybe your steps
were too big. Maybe it will help to borrow some perfumed clothes, sheets or towels from
friends/family and to practice with it at home. First a few minutes in your surrounding (and
then bring it to the garage or what so ever) and make the exposure time a bit longer and
longer every time. Especially when you do not have reactions of course (and if you have
reactions, work on it right away). And in time you bring the perfumed item (like a towel) in
your bedroom for sleeping in a 'perfumed' room, but that is just the 'end station'. You need to
do this in tiny little steps. Your UNconscious must start to believe/learn that it is safe now
and that it don't need to warn you anymore. Your conscious may want many things (and
right now), but that is just your WILL (power); your UNconscious part of the brain must learn
it, must get the time for it. It must starting to believe it too. So keep on practicing every day
and every moment/time it needs your attention.

14
 MCS Recovery
35) Do I need to do the Gupta Programme permanently?
No, you do not have to do the Gupta programme permanently; In time you will do the
exercises less and less. And finally you do not have to do them anymore when the
amygdala is back in its natural state. I hardly do not do the exercises anymore, but
sometimes when I do 'new' things I have to stay focused that my amygdala will not get in
control (high alert) again.
Update July 2014: My recovery is permanent; I never have to use the program anymore.

36) What can I do more if I do not feel big improvements after 6 months?
There are several things you can do:

► Find motivation, information, help and support at the Gupta forum

http://www.guptaprogramme.com/forum/ Do not struggle alone!

► Find help from a Professional Coach via the Gupta Clinic

http://www.guptaprogramme.com/ Normally you really should be able to find improvement
too, so do not give up (too soon). Make sure other medical reasons are ruled out.
NOTE: Always ask a professional doctor for help when having health problems. Also when
working on the program or when being coached.

►Try to work out any false beliefs about the programme with the tools you have
received. Use the A. training to get rid of your own doubts and sceptic feelings, because
they can block your recovery process. It surely can! Give it the benefit of the doubt a few
months more.

► Keep these two words in mind: Consistent and Persistence. Try to find out where
you have been too nice for yourself or on what point you are not or have not been
committed for 100%. There can be tons of reasons, but none of them will help you to move
forward.

15
 MCS Recovery
37) What if I will not have any results at all?
There is a money back guarantee on this programme. Check the website and the study
material for information on that.

38) Did you hear about others who recovered from MCS?
Yes, mainly also from people who did the programme. From one MCS patient I heard that
she recovered because of taking a specific anti depression medication. Some of those
medications (please ask a professional for more details) calm down the amygdala as well.
But knowing that a lot of MCS patients cannot handle any medication, the brain retraining
would be preferable I think. In some cases, this medication therapy could be a life saver
when nothing else seems possible. It all depends on your own personal situation.
Update July 2014 – more and more MCS patients are recovering from MCS. You can find
several examples at Facebook-networks but also via Gupta, internet etc.

39) Do you use any regular medicine?

I had to use for a short while for other reasons than MCS regular medication this year. I had
no side effects or what so ever.
Update July 2014 – I had to take several times medications, had some medical tests with
contrast fluid and even local surgery with anesthesia. No bad effects, no setbacks etc.

40) Do you still have reactions after a year?

No, I do not have any MCS reactions any more. But I still have to be conscious about the
fact that I do not give wrong signals back to my amygdala when I am starting to get worried
or feeling fears. Especially when I did new things, like staying in a hotel, making a flight,
encounter bad smells etc. I needed to stay focused on my amygdala. I think it will take a few
years, before I never think about MCS again.
Update July 2014: I totally start to forget MCS. Really!! It is completely out of my life, body
and mind. It is because of the fact that I still help others (by making/or updating this
document for example; or emailing people with some personal advice; updating my
Facebook page etc.) that I am still reminded of those “old” days. The positive thing is that I
regularly still feel that blessing again about how special it is to be recovered!!!

16
 MCS Recovery
41) How is your sense of smell doing now?
Your smell normalises when your system calms down, that is what Gupta says and that is
my experience as well. I really hardly do not smell people or things anymore (only when
there are strong fumes, but everyone does smell that then!). In any case I do not notice
smells as strong as I did before. It is correct that that is normalising too, fortunately!!

42) How does it feel to be back in the world?

2010 August - 2011 September - 2014 May -

My first dining out after 10 years. My first flight after many years. Flying by myself as an ex canary!

Every day still feels like a blessing, a gift. If you have lived in isolation for many years with
the thought that it would be the rest of your life and you find freedom again, that is truly a
miracle. Although I had to do the ‘work’ myself, it really feels like something very special has
overcome to me. I feel a deep thankfulness and a happiness what life gives me and will
never take it for granted anymore. I am living in freedom now and a normal life, but I never
will forget this amazing, blessed experience. I really hope MANY MCS patients will follow in
my foot steps and find recovery as well. That is my deepest wish.

43) Are you going to use chemical products again?

I did a lot of research for my MCS books and know about the dangers of toxic chemicals.
Where I can choose for natural and safe products, I will keep on doing that. But now it is
matter of free choice!
Update July 2014: I (can) use every regular product I want now!

17
 MCS Recovery
44) Are you available as personal coach for others?
After years of being ill and working on MCS information (my website/books) it is time for me
to live my new life. We have very beautiful plans, that has something to do with a new
project (travelling and writing)
This document is my unconditional gift to the MCS patients, meant to say to them: “There is
a way out of the hell, called MCS”. You have to work on it hard, but it really is doable. I
could shout it out: “PLEASE BELIEVE ME”, but people have to go their own ways and make
their own decisions. Like I am free to choose for another life than being somebody’s
personal coach.

45) Why do some MCS patients not succeed as fast or complete as others? NEW

I think there are several reasons why some people do not have as much of success as
others. Maybe my thoughts below will help you:

Intense study of the material and sessions is a must:

A lot of people watch the program (only) a few times – they think they understand it enough
with those few times and start to do the exercises a few times a day or less. It is not only
about learning how the exercises work it is also about “getting it”. Really understanding what
amygdala’s are and do (like even “the little whispers in your ears”). A deeper understanding
of how the amygdala’s work can make the 7 steps more intense and effectively is my
opinion. It gives the retrainers more motivation and a better communication with themselves
(as the future self-coaches to themselves) and their overreacting amygdala’s.
Tip: See your amygdala’s as stubborn toddlers. You have to keep repeating and repeating
yourself until they do what you want them to do. ☺

The consistent part:

The point is that you have to do the “stopstopstop” ALWAYS (yes always) and
EVERYWHERE (also at work, at night, during a movie etc) AS SOON as the amygdala’s
are starting to fire off for whatever reason. No exceptions, excuses or escapes. (The short or
long version of the 7 steps is best for stopping; the S&F is best for relaxing yourself and the
amygdala’s ). It is even better to start the exercises just BEFORE the amygdala’s turn to

18
 MCS Recovery
high alert (you can notice that by the first signals/”whispers”). Never let the amygdala’s get
in that old state again. It must be the first priority in life to keep them calm for at least 6
months. Then new neural connections have enough time to become strong and permanent.

The help:

I think most people need a coach, because we all have our weak moments in the process.
Even if it just for writing and telling about their progress. It is important to stay on track. It is
also for reminding themselves about the contract they have made (a note on the mirror with
an end date of the contract is a good and daily reminder!).

What is NOT helping:

• Still looking too much which has caused the reaction. Getting frustrated when having
(a) setback(s). = “It is just a happing” stay relaxed.
• Still too much connected with MCS groups and other patients, which can have a bad
influence on your (sub)conscious. Disconnect for a year.
• Still too much posting or reading on warning about chemicals, like Monsanto etc., the
earth etc. Those retrainers forget that this kind of daily input has a huge negative
impact on the amygdala’s. Amygdala’s are getting confused when giving them
opposite signals during the day (think of the example of the toddlers!).
Safe/not safe etc. If you want to move forward, choose the right path to recovery.
• Still too much complaining (about lack of energy, sensitivities, money) to others and
why they cannot start or go on with the program. People should think more in
solutions, not in problems.
• Still too much “therapy/programme hopping” going on. It is important to make a
choice, go for it and stick to the program for at least a year and decide never ever
ever ever ever to give up. A coach can keep you on track.

People who recover fast were really ill too:

I do believe people can recover very fast -> meaning getting the responses of the
amygdala’s under control right away. It depends of course also on the severity of their
condition, but I think more important:” they just get it “ and because of their understanding
what amygdala’s are for and are doing, they are faster in making progress. Everyone has

19
 MCS Recovery
his own page in this process, so retrainers should stop looking at or judging others and stay
on their own track. Thinking that the people who are recovered were no real MCS patients
after all is a very ridiculous thing to do!! A wise thing to do anyway when experiencing a fast
recovery, is to keep on retraining for at least a few months too, because it is important that
the amygdala’s are calm and stay calm for a longer period of time for permanent results (for
deepening the new neural connections).

Additional tools:

My experience is that EFT or Tapping is the best additional tool. Easy to learn and a very
good addition to the Gupta program. But keep the Gupta program as your main tool as long
as you are not 100% recovered.

And last but not least:

In your daily life: replace as much negative thoughts by positive thoughts (this prevents
adrenaline shots from the brains into your recovering body and prevents amygdala’s to get
stressed by what you think). The more you practice this skill, the more easy it will become.

46) Where do I find more information (web links)?

See last two pages.

I really hope this document will be of help for you!! Go for it!!
All the best,

© Els Valkenburg, the Netherlands

[email protected]

20
 MCS Recovery
Gupta Amygdala Retraining:

http://www.guptaprogramme.com/
http://www.guptaprogramme.com/forum/
https://www.facebook.com/pages/GUPTA-PROGRAMME-FOR-ME-CFS-FIBROMYALGIA-MCS-
GWS-GUPTA-AMYGDALA-RETRAINING/127885797232718

A complete free session (session 2) about the amygdala via YouTube:

Part 1/6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEtyMHbf08U

Part 2/6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYuOXdjaSJY
Part 3/6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GKA3h56VWc
Part 4/6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JU-rOvhTZxA
Part 5/6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YhI9eXkTic
Part 6/6 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01srRrDqj54

Planet Thrive:

An interview with Ashok Gupta:

http://planetthrive.com/2009/10/ashok-gupta-interview/
Planet Thrive about my recovery:
http://planetthrive.com/2011/09/els-valkenburgs-recovery/
Planet Thrive - more stories about recovery from MCS:
http://planetthrive.com/tag/mcs-recovery/
Brain retraining success stories | Limbic Retraining:
http://limbicretraining.com/contributors/julie/brain-retraining-success-
stories/?utm_source=Planet+Thrive+Newsletter&utm_campaign=909127bd1d-
July+2012+newsletter&utm_medium=email

21
 MCS Recovery

Miscellaneous:

EMF and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity - Thilde on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy3CnXS7tak&feature=player_embeddedEMF
Healing from MCS (BlogSpot):
http://movingbeyondmcs.blogspot.nl/2011/09/author-recovers-from-mcs-using-brain.html
MCS und Amygdala Retraining - Geheilt - German blog:
http://mcsamygdalaretraining.wordpress.com/2011/04/25/geheilt/
Posts that focus entirely on MCS improvements:
http://movingbeyondmcs.blogspot.nl/p/posts-that-focus-entirely-on-mcs.html
Retraining the brain for cfs fms mcs ptsd gws:
http://alwayswellwithin.com/2010/05/11/retraining-the-brain-for-cfs-fms-mcs-ptsd-gws/

Disclaimer:
The content of this document is strictly for MCS information
purposes only and should never be construed as constituting
medical advice of any kind.
I cannot be held responsible for the consequences of your own
decisions after reading about this recovery story.

22