Prior to working with Dr. Stracks, he didn't recognize the fact that he was a worried, anxious, stressed-out person. When Dr. Stracks said, “You may need to take it easy on yourself," he thought he meant physically. With a great house, family, an active life, Mike thought he had the game beat. Now it’s obvious him he was anxious his whole life.

He has no desire to blame his parents, they were acting out of their pain, while it’s difficult to discuss, his father (who had a really hard childhood) had a bad temper. Mike feels that by sharing his story he's releasing his dad of his burden. There is no blame. This is not physical violence or sexual abuse but simple benign everyday trauma.

Thinking about how trauma forms us and gets passed down through the generations, he now sees the triggers and behaviors related to emotional repression. Through the simple act of talking about it, the pain releases.

Whereas he used to become angry and withdrawn at times, now he can feel it happening early and take some deep breaths and shift those patterns and the subsequent pain.

He says acceptance is not giving up but to “consent to the world as it exists… align with the reality of the world” Things are cyclical, if this is a difficult moment this moment will pass. He proclaims "It’s amazing how much better it is to live this way!"

When asked about the role of western medicine in his and his family's life now, he talks about encouraging his daughter to treat some recent pain with meditation and tracking her emotions. He often ponders when/whether to see a doctor. He thinks he’ll know when the time is right. For now, he embraces the mind-body connection and wellness based on that – and he still gets a physical every year.

He acknowledges that four years ago, he couldn’t have spoken like this. His journey has been a gift. His purpose in life is to share it. We all have false beliefs of ourselves, when we remove the armor it's a much better way to live.

I'm Annette Leonard, speaker, coach, and sick person who believes that my illnesses do not define me. If health is the absence of disease and wellness is the presence of wholeness, then no matter what your disease status, we can work toward your wellness, your wholeness.

Whether or not you are ever "healthy" on paper, you can be well. Join me and others on the path back to wholeness at AnnetteLeonard.com. Whether you are a person experiencing chronic illness or are someone who loves or serves people with chronic illness I have great resources here on this channel or on my website for you.

WIN A COPY OF MIKE'S BOOK Here's how to enter:

1) Leave me a rating or review on whatever audio podcast platform you listen to.

2) Let me know you've done that by emailing me at [email protected] or leaving me a comment about it on YouTube so that you can be entered in to the drawing. If you have a preference about which book you'd like, let me know in your comment or email. (I’m also giving away a copy of Arlene Faulk's "Walking on Pins and Needles.")

3) If you'd like to be entered multiple times you can also post about one (or both of the books) and tag me on Instagram @theAnnetteLeonard including tag of either #mypainbodysolution or @arlenefaulk for up to two additional entries. The drawing is planned for Mike's book is on 7/5 (Arlene's will be on 6/30).