"When I first began Brain Training with Trish, I did not have any expectations. I did not begin because I had identified any problems, but I was curious and interested in the experience. I had recently been promoted to a leadership position at work and was doing well but finding the increased demands of the position “fatiguing” to my aging brain (I was 57). I also found at the end of the day my brain felt so tired I had little mental energy left to do much more than watch TV, and was “sluggish” and crankier than I wanted to be, but accepted all these things as “par for the course”.
After the first session I felt different. While Trish explained it was unusual to feel the effects so quickly, I immediately felt myself able to focus better and noticed I seemed to be more alert. After a few more sessions, I began to notice more and more positive effects.
My focus and alertness continued to improve. I was able to "switch gears" better between tasks noticing that in a busy day filled with multitasking and many changing and challenging demands, I was able to focus completely on each task at hand and switch focus as needed quickly and effectively. I was not distracted as easily.
I began to notice throughout my day, my ability to store information, and retrieve and access that information were greatly enhanced. This made me more able to respond to any situation or challenge more effectively in the moment. I'm not saying it made me smarter, or more intuitive, just that it made my full potential accessible to me in the moment. I feel like I am occupying all of my brain, as if the sludge has been cleared away and my memory is more efficient than it has been in many years.
One amazing result was I noticed I am much more calm. I feel as though I have a deep well of peace to draw on when faced with challenges. I am able to switch effectively and completely from one situation to another, giving the immediate situation the appropriate attention and response it deserves, then leave it and switch to what is needed in the next event. When in fun situations, find I can enjoy them much more fully, and not allow pressures from other areas erode my ability to enjoy the moment.
As I had not been expecting much in the way of results, Trish and I had not discussed in detail what I could expect in various areas, however she asked me to be alert to any changes I noticed. As my sessions progressed, I began to notice more and more positive effects. Trish and I would discuss the things I was noticing and she would confirm these were the exact effects brain training was meant to elicit.
Those changes included but were not limited to the following:
-markedly increased mental alertness and quickness; for example, I was more alert and focused at work whether in meetings, or working on projects myself (I described it to her as feeling as I I had my 40 year old brain back functioning on all cylinders)
-improved ability to switch between types of brain activity, for example, I noticed when I was with my family, I was able to “switch off” work mode and be entirely present and in the moment, enjoying more, laughing more, having more fun. I had not realized this was not happening before, until I noticed it happening after commencing brain training
-generally happier (in fact, it was so noticeable that, while I had not spoken much to my family about the training, at one point when I had been too long between sessions, my daughter commented that I was getting grumpy again and should go back to see Trish for some training. When I explored this with her, she explained she noticed a marked difference in my affect when brain training.
-while falling asleep had not been a problem for me, I notice a better ability to stay asleep and a great improvement in waking up in the morning refreshed and alert. Often I wake up long before my alarm and get up because I am “slept out”, and am functional for the whole day.
-Improved ability to focus on healthy eating. If there was anything I wanted to change, it was that I have been struggling with my weight all of my life, and wished I had more will power to diet. Trish explained that while brain training cannot claim to make your body lose weight, it does claim to stabilize you emotionally which can improve impulse control and help you regulate and better respond to emotional triggers. I cannot describe this as increased will power exactly, but instead a better ability to “put on the breaks” when thinking of eating unhealthy foods and stay focused on eating for fuel. I have lost 45 pounds since I began brain training.
-while I did not have many nightmares before, and I did dream, I find now I have many more, and more vivid dreams, and rarely have nightmares."
- Jones: Brilliant Executive in a High Pressure Position