[00:00:00] Julie Michelson: Welcome back to the inspired living with autoimmunity podcast. I'm your host, Julie Michaelson. And today I'm joined by Dr. Irene Cop and we are talking about retraining your brain to heal autoimmunity as an expert in neuroplasticity, Dr. Irene shares, why people develop autoimmunity and what we can do about.


[00:00:55] We discuss the energy vampires that contribute to your condition and how to [00:01:00] use neuroplasticity to retrain your brain and heal.


[00:01:04] Dr. Irene, welcome to the podcast.


[00:01:07] Irene Cop: Thank you so much for having me, Julie, appreciate being here.


[00:01:10] Julie Michelson: I am really looking forward to our conversation and sharing your, not only your expertise, but just the energy you bring for listeners. So I would love for you. I always start with, you know, how did you get to be doing what you're doing? I would love for you. I know you have an incredible story. And I feel like that's what makes all of us lean in and think, oh, maybe me too.


[00:01:36] So would you, would you be willing to share your journey with us?


[00:01:40] Irene Cop: It would be my pleasure. And so where do I start? Oh my goodness. That's a, that's a really good question. So I started out as a meditation instructor. A neurophysiological meditation instructor years ago, back when the earth [00:02:00] was green and unicorns roamed the earth. And it was back at a time where the only people who were meditating were gurus or hippies.


[00:02:12] And I learned it as, as a way of, of teaching people, biofeedback, how to improve their. or gain control over their so-called involuntary nervous system and, and help themselves heal. So that was the very first thing. And so that was my first foray into health and wellness. And in my first degree, and then I became a doctor of chiropractic, followed that up with acupuncture.


[00:02:42] In other words, I was, I was already on a mission and a course to improve the world and save people's lives and love what I did. And I thought I was on top of the world. I really, truly did. I thought I had it all going [00:03:00] on. I was a single mom at this point. I was, you. head of the PTA, the, you know, business improvement association.


[00:03:08] I almost single handedly ran a what's called the lake shore festival in Toronto. That gets hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. Like I was doing it all. I was superwoman


[00:03:18] Julie Michelson: I can hear it already in your story. Irene


[00:03:23] Irene Cop: Yeah. I even had the best year financially in my clinic. Right. Like, as I said, I was on top of the world until I crashed and burned. and I crashed and burned. Literally. You and I in the green room were just talking about where I, I live in Canada and I was driving in Northern Canada and in Northern Canada, there's an area called the Canadian shield.


[00:03:55] And so you, you drive through these, these hilly windy [00:04:00] areas and there's massive rock. On either side of, of the road and I lost consciousness, the road curved, and I drove straight into basically like a three story rock face, and I woke up to seeing a fire in the engine and the engine was basically in my lap and.


[00:04:30] my two young children were in the car with me and I couldn't see them. I had no idea what was going on with them. All I knew is that we waited what seemed like forever to have the jaws of life come and cut us out. And I was very aware of pain, pain, pain, so pure that it was like I was vibrating outside of myself.


[00:04:59] [00:05:00] Turned out that I broke 10 bones, including my neck back, both sides, my pelvis, and, you know, moving on down, had a mild head injury brain injury. I still have the scar right here. And my six year old son was running around witnessing what had other adults at the scene throwing. so needless to say, my six year old son developed PTSD like that.


[00:05:33] And my four year old son suffered a catastrophic brain injury and needed to be airlifted to the nearest pediatric hospital, which was in Toronto at the time three hours away. And they didn't know if he was going to live for about two or three weeks after undergoing emergency life, saving surgery, brain surgery.


[00:05:55] And. in the midst of all this, it was the first [00:06:00] SARS quarantine. So the first SARS, the little sea bug that's traveling the world right now is the second SARS. They just call it something different to differentiate. And so I was in hospital with 10 broken bones and all alone because I couldn't have visitors.


[00:06:20] I couldn't see my children. And. , I'm not ashamed to say that I was balling my eyes out. It was truly the lowest moment of my life because I, I was going crazy for fear with, you know, for my children. I couldn't see them. I was getting news secondhand, you know, from other people who would call in at one point, they didn't even know that there was like a mom involved, like, you know, and I was at a whole different hospital.


[00:06:51] Right? Like it. A really, you know, the truth is stranger than fiction. And I go into this detail because I, I want people to, to [00:07:00] sit up and, and pay attention. And I'll, I'll explain why in that moment, I'm all alone in this dark hospital room. Forget, you know, racked with pain. I was spiraling down in guilt and shame and remorse and, and, you know, my inner judge and jury was like, what kind of mother was I?


[00:07:25] You know, what kind of doctor was I not to know that I had this condition? What kind of monster was I like, you know, it was like, did I even deserve to live? That was, you know, what was, you know, whirling around my mind and the question that kept coming to mind. why me, why me and, and yeah, absolutely. There was a massive dose of self pity, like why me?


[00:07:54] But deeper down, the more important question was, [00:08:00] why me? Why did this happen to me? I was a doctor. I did everything right. You know, nutrition and exercise, yoga meditation, you know, but the only thing that I could be so-called faulted for was that I, you know, had two young children. So, you know, I got as much sleep as a single mom, you know, with two young children does.


[00:08:24] And what I realized was. that I was, and I, I believe this for each and every one of us, including your listeners. We are designed for success. I truly believe that every baby who is born is. Is designed for success. They have their own unique set of gifts and talents and genius, whether they have down syndrome or whatever, it doesn't matter.


[00:08:59] We are [00:09:00] all infinitely valuable.


[00:09:02] Julie Michelson: Yes.


[00:09:03] Irene Cop: And can I get a hell? Yeah.


[00:09:06] Julie Michelson: Hell yeah.


[00:09:06] Irene Cop: that? You're from Jersey. You're. Am I allowed to say hell here on this? Okay.


[00:09:10] Julie Michelson: whatever


[00:09:11] Irene Cop: Good, good, good. I I'll only I'll use it


[00:09:15] Julie Michelson: from Canada, so


[00:09:17] Irene Cop: I'm a farmer. So exactly. So, so we are born infinitely valuable, and a baby knows that, right. A baby knows, like they don't sit there and go, Ooh, I have to earn my way before I can like get fed. Or cuddled or right. But somewhere along the way by mostly well-meaning people, we are programmed to believe that we have to achieve to be worthy.


[00:09:56] right. That we have to prove that we've got what it takes [00:10:00] that, you know, and, and you could add on all of the different layers of, of, of programming and it's, and it's, it's what our society, our culture. Sure. Not only accepts they expect it.


[00:10:19] Julie Michelson: Yeah.


[00:10:20] Irene Cop: right. Which is why burnout has such a, a stigma, which thank goodness is, is changing.


[00:10:26] And I'm on a mission to change that it's that we have, I call it the gauntlet mentality. And you know, if doctors make the worst patients, it's because there are certain careers like doctors where the gauntlet mentality is, is alive and well. and, and hammered into us that you have to prove you've got what it takes to be a doctor.


[00:10:55] You, you, can't just, it's not good enough just to [00:11:00] be the best and the brightest and wanna help people. No, you've gotta prove, you know, working a hundred hours a week as a resident or right. Like it's, it's crazy.


[00:11:09] Julie Michelson: that, that you're gonna defy all laws of wellness and still perform top of your game. It makes


[00:11:15] Irene Cop: exactly. Yeah, exactly. And, and, but here's the thing I'm, I'm gonna, I, I I'll, you know, admit on behalf of doctors, doctors make the worst patients, you could say all the healthcare providers make the worst patients, all moms make the worst patients. Right because they're constantly women and guys not to leave you out will get there, but it's like, we, women are, are programmed with a special set of, of, you know, rules, you know, little girls are to be seen and not heard that it's, you know, you're selfish.


[00:11:52] If you don't put everyone else's needs in front of you. And that there's like some kind of badge of honor to sacrificing [00:12:00] like a Marty. You know for yourself. Right. And, you know, on top of needing to prove that you're worthy of love health, happiness, success, right. Guys, you got a separate, you know,


[00:12:15] Julie Michelson: So yeah,


[00:12:15] Irene Cop: separate, right.


[00:12:16] You know, you know, suck it up, take it like a man be strong. Great. Like, so guys, you, you have your, your, you know, layer of, of programming as well. I had a lot of time to think in that hospital bed. And what I realized was that we may be designed for success were set up for failure by our programming and by other factors that I lovingly call energy vampire.


[00:12:53] that sucked the life out of us, sucked the energy out of us and set us up for [00:13:00] burnout. And what I call flame out syndrome, which is the, the catastrophic version of, of burnout, where you, you develop the physical symptoms and autoimmunity is one condition that is. Very much tied in with that. And you know, where you can possibly crash and burn.


[00:13:28] It may be with hypoglycemia. Like I developed where I lost consciousness because my blood sugar crashed and burned before I did. Right. Or it may be an autoimmune condition. right where your immune system is D depressed and, and, and inflammation, which is a derangement of the immune system, you know, causes your, your body to attack it's its own cells.


[00:13:57] Right. So [00:14:00] I realized there, and then that I was . Rather than allowing myself to spiral continue spiraling down into you're a monster you don't deserve to live. I chose to transmute those burdens of what I felt into what I called the burden of responsibility. That if I could help one family, one person avoid what my family and I did, then I would be success.


[00:14:36] and that was years ago. I went back, got my medical degree got a slew. I, you know, specialized in, in brain injury and neuroplasticity because I refused to accept the prognosis that, you know, my son would never walk, talk or pass high school. He does both. And he's in his fourth year of engineering.


[00:14:56] They're both doing great, not to leave everyone hanging on, [00:15:00] on that


[00:15:00] Julie Michelson: right? Yeah.


[00:15:02] Irene Cop: and, and. and then I got a whole slew of coaching certifications. It's like, what do I need? What, what pieces of information do I need? Number one, to heal my family and then to heal, help my clients heal against all odds. And, and so that is now my mission as founder of the stress to success shift Institute is to show people that.


[00:15:34] and guide people in awakening to the awareness. Number one, that we are all born to be extraordinary. Extraordinary. People are just ordinary people who believe that they can do it and they take action on it


[00:15:51] Julie Michelson: Mm-hmm


[00:15:53] Irene Cop: and you can heal yourself.


[00:15:57] Julie Michelson: well, say it again.


[00:15:58] Irene Cop: believe you can heal [00:16:00] yourself. Right. All it takes is, is eliminating those barriers to healing that.


[00:16:09] Julie Michelson: is designed to do it. It's not, you know, I, I remember my story back in the earlier days of my healing journey was, or before I really began to heal I would hear healing stories, and this is why I ask for your story in the beginning. And then we're gonna dive a little deeper into how you help people.


[00:16:28] But I had heard not many. Some healing stories when I was really ill and still of the mindset that that was my fate. and I had my own, you know, I had my own versions of, well, they, you know, maybe they experienced a miracle. Maybe they weren't really sick. May, you know,


[00:16:51] Irene Cop: Mm-hmm


[00:16:52] Julie Michelson: And this is why we do this, right.


[00:16:53] Both of us is I, if nobody else ever believes a doctor, [00:17:00] when they say, you know, Here's your autoimmune diagnosis and you can't heal. I, then I figured one of my jobs well done and then like you, the other hand is I, I love helping people through that journey and, and watching the transformations. So cats out of the bag.


[00:17:16] Irene Cop: Absolutely. Absolutely.


[00:17:19] Julie Michelson: heal. There's so many things that you brought up that I wanna circle back to, and I know we don't have five hours scheduled for this. Listeners are not


[00:17:29] Irene Cop: I should, I should, I should asked you how long you wanted me to spend on my story.


[00:17:35] Julie Michelson: No, well, it's, it's. were very concise. I mean, it's all so important. So no, I'm the one who has to temper, like, okay. I can't ask about every single thing I wanna, I wanna dive right into. Well, and I wanna highlight actually, I'm gonna go back to, to take your story and, and because you [00:18:00] connected the dots already with, you know, the universe stopped you in your tracks. for you, it was a blood sugar dip that led to this unbelievable