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In this episode of The Neuro Collective Podcast, May Bagnell dives into the silent struggles so many of us carry: difficulty focusing, knowing what to do but not doing it, and feeling stuck in the same emotional patterns.

She unpacks the real reasons behind these blocks—spoiler: it’s not laziness—and shares compassionate, brain-based strategies to help you get back into alignment with your goals and values. If you’ve been hard on yourself for not following through, this episode is a gentle reset.

It’s not about pushing harder—it’s about understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, calming your nervous system, and creating real momentum from a place of self-awareness and care.

What You'll Take Away:

• A 3-minute nervous system reset you can use anytime you feel overwhelmed
• Why forcing focus rarely works—and what helps instead
• How to shift from “I need more discipline” to “I need deeper alignment”
• The surprising root of self-sabotage (and why it's not your fault)
• Small but powerful mindset shifts to move forward without burnout

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In this episode of The Doctor Is In, Dr. Michael Bagnell answers three powerful questions from listeners—covering sleep struggles, ADHD in children, and the challenge of living with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).

Whether you're an entrepreneur who can’t shut your brain off at night, a parent seeking alternatives to ADHD meds, or someone navigating the confusion of dysautonomia, this episode brings clarity and hope.

Dr. Bagnell shares practical strategies rooted in functional neurology—like understanding sleep architecture, using neurofeedback, and strengthening brain function through neuroplasticity. It’s a science-based, personalized approach you won’t hear in most traditional settings.

Struggling to Fall Asleep?
A 46-year-old business owner shares his difficulty winding down at night.
Topics covered:

• Sleep architecture and wearable sleep trackers
• Delta and theta brainwaves
• How BrainTap and audio-visual entrainment can help calm a racing mind

Can Neurofeedback Help ADHD?
A parent asks about their 13-year-old son with ADHD.
Topics covered:

• Why neurofeedback is a common non-pharmaceutical alternative
• Brain mapping, connectivity, and customized therapy
• How nutrition and metabolic factors may also affect attention

Hope for POTS Recovery
A concerned mother shares her daughter’s struggle with POTS.
Topics covered:

• What POTS is and how it affects the autonomic nervous system
• Conventional vs. functional neurology approaches
• How neuroplastic rehabilitation can support recovery

Dr. Bagnell encourages listeners to keep asking questions and seeking deeper answers.
Final message: “You should know that you can heal—and we can help.”


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🎙️ EPISODE TITLE:
"When Healing Feels Like an Attack: Identity, the Brain, and the Path to Freedom"

Welcome to another Thoughtful Thursday with Dr. Michael and May Bagnell! Today’s episode is a powerful and eye-opening conversation centered around a deeply human question: Who are you? More importantly — who have you become in the face of pain, illness, or trauma?

Together, we explore how the Default Mode Network (DMN) — a brain network responsible for your sense of self — plays a role in how your identity is shaped, challenged, and even hijacked by life experiences. You’ll learn why some people struggle to heal despite taking all the right steps, and how your thought patterns and language (even something as simple as saying "my anxiety") can entrench unhealthy identities.

In this episode, we unpack:

• How your brain forms your identity — and why it often happens subconsciously
• The real reason why healing can feel like an emotional attack
• The danger of personalizing conditions (“my depression,” “my migraines”)
• Why people can get stuck in their identity of illness — and how to gently detach from it
• What it takes to envision a future version of yourself beyond trauma or disease
• How affirmations from others (even just one mentor or teacher) can shape your entire life

Whether you’re on a journey of recovery, supporting a loved one, or simply ready to change the story you tell yourself, this conversation offers both science-backed insights and soul-nourishing encouragement.

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t know who you are anymore or you’re ready to reclaim your identity with hope and intention — this episode is for you.

💬 Quote to remember:
"When your disease becomes your identity, healing can feel like an attack."

🎧 Tune in now. You can heal — and we can help.