23/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 23, 2025 VI theSunday Special

Rewiring the nervous system: The missing link in mental wellness

From regenerative therapy to neural

W HEN most Malaysians think about mental well ness, the usual advice comes to mind. Manage stress, talk to someone, take a break or in some cases, seek medication. But what if the real key lies deeper – not just in calming the mind, but in rewiring the very system that governs how our body responds to life? This is the idea behind nervous sys tem-focused healing, a science-backed approach that goes beyond symptom management. It has been championed by Dr Ron Bardonado, a physician with over 25 years of clinical experience and long-time resident doctor at The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines. “Our whole body–mind complex is highly adaptable and malleable,” he said. “Every daily experience creates new wiring in our neurons. If you surround yourself with uplifting people or a sup portive environment, your nervous system will naturally rewire positively. Conversely, a toxic environment wires the EUDLQ WRZDUGV SDLQ DQG VX̆ HULQJ ´ At its core, the nervous system is our body’s command centre. It dictates how we feel, think and react – whether it’s the adrenaline rush when we’re late for a meeting or the calm after a deep breath. But when stress is chronic or trauma unresolved, the nervous system gets stuck in overdrive. engineering, researchers are learning how to help the body rewire BY ASHRAF WAHAB

“Medically, chronic stress weakens the immune system and can translate into physical illness, from cardiovascular events like stroke or heart attack to even cancer,” Ron explained. Trauma, if left unprocessed, becomes ³GHQVL¿HG´ LQ WKH ERG\ GLVUXSWLQJ RUJDQ function and manifesting as conditions like hypertension, irritable bowel syn drome or even allergies.

This is why some of us notice recurring gut issues, brain fog or hypersensitivity to sound and light when life feels overwhelm LQJ 7KHVH 5RQ VDLG DUH HDUO\ UHG ÀDJV that the nervous system is dysregulated. Beyond talk therapy and medication Traditional mental health treatments like counselling and medication focus on the “top-down” approach, starting with the mind and working downward. While valuable, Ron believes they often fall short unless paired with “bottom-up” interventions. “At The Farm, we add the body into the equation,” he said. That means somatic exercises, yoga, tai chi, meditation, breathwork and simply being immersed in 52 hectares of nature. Together, these practices regulate the nervous system by engaging the body’s innate ability to heal, making people feel safe, grounded and resilient. In other words, it’s not just about silencing anxious thoughts, but about teaching the body itself to relax, reset and rewire. The phrase “The Body Keeps the Score” has become well known thanks to psy chiatrist Bessel van der Kolk and Ron agrees wholeheartedly. Trauma, he said, is imprinted not just in memory but in our unconscious mind and even our cells. A

It’s not just about calming the mind — it’s about teaching the body to relax, reset and rewire.”

Advanced Brain Biofeedback … Innovative way to repair damaged nerves and restore lost function.

dysregulated autonomic nervous system throws the body’s systems out of balance, D̆ HFWLQJ HYHU\WKLQJ IURP KRUPRQHV WR digestion. Healing begins with surprisingly simple basics – a proper diet, slow and mindful movement, restorative sleep, toxin reduc tion and time in safe environments. “When the body feels safe, the nervous system begins to release trauma natu rally,” Ron noted.