Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain

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Today, IFS practitioner Jonty Hikmet talks to us about allowing emotions to be exactly as they are. We’re not talking about rescuing yourself. We’re not talking about calming yourself. We’re just talking about feeling your emotions. As you’ll see, this is at the core of healing chronic pain and symptoms.

In this Episode:

🔹 Jonty tells us, “I was told for years, there are probably emotional components to your symptoms. I just didn’t understand what that meant.”

🔹 After healing from his own chronic IBS and other symptoms using Internal Family Systems therapy, Jonty helps others do the same for themselves.

🔹 In minbody work, the intention is not soothing. The intention is “allowing.”

🔹 Jonty dives deep into the theme of allowing, including what he sees as the typical missing piece.

🔹 IFS is parts work. The psyche is comprised of a series of parts. Many times, these parts are in conflict with each other.

🔹 Internal conflict is a key driver of chronic pain and symptoms. IFS helps us access and understand our conflicting parts.

🔹 In this conversation, Jonty encourages us to ask the helpful question, “How do you feel towards what’s arising?” In doing so, we’re seeing this as a part.

🔹 Jonty teaches us many ways to move past rescuing and fixing. He gives us tools to move into allowing and self-energy.

You’re going to learn a lot – and you’re going to enjoy this conversation.

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Find Jonty:

Jonty’s Website: jontyhikmet.com

Jonty’s YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@jontyhikmet

Jonty’s Instagram: @jontyhikmettherapy

SKOOL COMMUNITY LINK: www.skool.com/pain-relief-programme-8762/about

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jonty Hikmet: The Missing Piece in Allowing

S1 E10 | The Emotional Work: Beyond Journaling

Liz Wallenstein, LMHC

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Today: a whole episode dedicated to health anxiety. Health anxiety is a TMS equivalent. It’s a very common symptom imperative. And it can be a really hard one. Today, we take it on.

In this Episode:

🔹 Just like chronic back pain doesn’t signify a problem with your back, chronic health anxiety doesn’t mean you’re ill.

🔹 Health anxiety is a TMS symptom equivalent. It’s a danger signal, and it’s a desperate attempt to keep you safe.

🔹 Our first reaction to health anxiety is usually to fix, to try to alleviate, to resist, to control, and to attempt to make it go away.

🔹 Our efforts to solve the feeling, however, are usually not helpful.

🔹 Surviving health anxiety is a 2-part process: Part 1) do your due diligence to take care of yourself. Go to the doctors. Get the tests. And then… Part 2) we have to draw the line somewhere. We have to turn away from “fixing” the emotion, and we have to surrender. We have to allow the feeling to be.

🔹 Today, I tell two stories about health anxiety in my life: one from the past, and one from the present.

This is a fun episode, with a good amount of solid, actionable advice. Join us.

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question on the Podcast

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

S1 E2 | What is TMS?

The Cure for Chronic Pain Podcast with Nicole Sachs, LCSW

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Damien Reilly is a certified addiction recovery coach. He’s also trained in pain reprocessing therapy. Damien’s been abstinent from drugs and alcohol for 14.5 years. He tells us about his use, his recovery, and the connection between his use and his chronic atypical facial pain, or trigeminal neuralgia.

In this Episode:

🔹 Addiction is a brain disease.

🔹 When we’re healing chronic pain, we’re rewiring the brain.

🔹 The two recovery processes (addiction and pain) actually have much in common. In both, we want to change the pathways in the brain.

🔹 Damien has a long history of chronic atypical facial pain, or trigeminal neuralgia.

🔹 Damien says, of his use, “Using would either make the pain go away – or it would make me not care.”

🔹 Damien discusses the importance of a pivotal shift in his mindset: “Stop trying to get rid of the pain, and start trying to get rid of the fear.”

When it comes to pain, Damien says, “I have nothing to be afraid of.”

Beautifully put.

Join us for this powerful discussion about chronic pain – and about the intersection between pain and addiction.

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Find Damien:

Damien’s Website: reillyrecovery.com

Damien’s Email: [email protected]

Damien’s Instagram: @reillyrecovery

Damien’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/damien-reilly-99596a12a

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

S5 E11 | How To Trust Yourself with Anna Holtzman, LMHC

S6 E5 | The Highly Sensitive Person and Chronic Pain with Kayla Jacobsen, LICSW

The Pain Psychology Center

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Tate Odell is my personal trainer, and I’m excited to welcome him to the podcast today. Tate’s been in the fitness industry for many, many years. He and I, of course, have different professional backgrounds, but we can easily agree on one thing: pain in the body does not necessarily mean there’s something structurally wrong with the body at the site of the pain. Today, you get that perspective from a personal trainer.

In this Episode:

🔹 Tate takes us through his advice for people who feel afraid of exercise.

🔹 He explains, particularly, what to do if you’re afraid of exercise due to pain.

🔹 Tate and I discuss debunking “associating your pain with harm.”

🔹 It’s so important to move out of that mental paradigm because, as we know, pain does not necessarily mean harm.

This is a great conversation with gentle advice for anyone who wants to reestablish a new relationship with exercise and fitness. Join us.

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Find Tate:

Tate’s Website: pays2progress.com

Tate’s Instagram: @pays2progress_

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

S1 E2 | What is TMS?

S4 E2 | Is My *Insert Symptom Here* TMS?

Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno

They Can’t Find Anything Wrong by Dr. David Clarke

S6 E2 | Is Neuroplastic Healing Backed By Science?

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

“What am I repressing?” It’s a great question to ask yourself. However, as we heal, it’s very common for us to ask the right questions using the wrong energy. It’s very common, unfortunately, for us to do the right things the wrong way. Today, we talk about how to cultivate the right energy with which to approach these healing modalities.

In this Episode:

🔹 A review of the 3 parts of healing: 1) Psychological, 2) Emotional, and 3) Patiently attuning to your true self.

🔹 How to balance all 3 parts of healing in order to break past plateaus.

🔹 An analysis of repressed emotions and their impact on chronic pain.

🔹 How to unearth repressed emotions.

🔹 And, an invitation to explore your emotions – NOT from a place of fixing and solving – but from a place of calm and allowing.

This episode covers some very important nuances that might just be the ticket to breaking through to the next level of your healing. Join us. We’d love to have you.

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Mind Your Body by Nicole Sachs

Healing Back Pain by Dr. John Sarno

How To Journalspeak with Nicole Sachs

Like Mind, Like Body Podcast

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Krisina Armenakis is a somatic coach. They help clients with chronic pain, chronic illness, and chronic stress. In Pain Reprocessing Therapy, we teach clients to feel safe. Safety, however, is a politicized concept. For those who struggle to feel safe, there are genuine reasons why. It’s validating to know: your body is not wrong.

In this Episode:

🔹 What is the nervous system? And what does nervous system “regulation” really mean?

🔹 Today, we discuss the nervous system responses: fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and dissociate. These are wise responses. They help you survive.

🔹 Regulation is about being flexible enough to respond to stressors and then to return to baseline. Regulation is not about being calm at all times. Quite the opposite.

🔹 You’re allowed to have fight, flight, freeze, fawn, and dissociate.

🔹 Then, the goal is to come back to baseline when the environment is safe again.

🔹 The environment, however, isn’t always safe. Our nervous systems are shaped by forces like racism, homophobia, transphobia, the climate crisis, wealth inequality, etc.

🔹 Therefore, healing is not individualized. Healing has to take the political and relational environment into account.

🔹 Safety is a politicized concept.

🔹 Today, we get deep into it.

This is a rich conversation about going beyond the “tools” and into a deeper understanding of nervous system regulation. Kristina discusses their thoughts about a nervous system working hard to survive difficult conditions. You’ll learn a lot today. You’ll feel validated today. You’ll enjoy this. You’re more than welcome to join us.

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Find Kristina:

Kristina’s Website: kristinaarmenakis.com

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

“I’m not here for transformation, I just want to end the pain.” Okay. I hear you. Now, let’s unpack that.

In this Episode:

🔹 When we’re in chronic pain, we’re in a state of emergency …all the time …for weeks, months, years, or decades.

🔹 We want a solution that’ll fix us immediately.

🔹 And for most of us, that’s not an option.

🔹 And it sucks.

🔹 The true fix is the long, slow, winding-journey fix.

🔹 If you want to end the pain, then you're going to have to be here for a transformation. That’s just how it is.

Today, we talk about the kind of change that unfolds slowly. A change of this magnitude and depth takes time. That’s okay. This is a massive emotional and psychological shift. You’re in the right place. I know this is frustrating, but hang in there. You’re doing the right thing.

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Mastering the ability to rest will help you heal your chronic pain. Sometimes the hardest “work” is the work of slowing down, of giving up, of letting go, of relaxing, of resting, and of letting yourself just be.

In this Episode:

🔹 What it feels like when your false self steals all your energy.

🔹 The emotional defenses of the TMS personality: perfectionism, goodism, high achievement, repressed anger, and stoicism.

🔹 Rest can mean being on the couch, but it can also mean letting go of the mask.

🔹 So many of us TMS people need a break.

🔹 We need a break from the demands others place on us.

🔹 We also need a break from the demands we place on ourselves.

Join in the conversation today. You’ll hear about a great break I got last year – and you’ll also be invited to tune in to yourself. You can take this time to ask yourself an important question: “What do I need right now?”

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

They Can’t Find Anything Wrong, by Dr. David Clarke

Liz Wallenstein, LMHC

Dr. Jeffrey Iovannone on The Normate Gay

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Today, we’re joined by doctor, leader, researcher, and author of Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression. In this conversation, you'll learn more about Dr. Howard Schubiner, his career, his process, and the fears he experienced as he published his book. It’s truly an honor to have him as a guest. Howard’s humor, authenticity, generosity, and compassion all shine through brilliantly in this little talk. Come hang out with us.

In this Episode:

🔹 We discuss Dr. Schubiner’s pre-mindbody career.

🔹 Then he started doing some work in this field, “and the results were astounding.”

🔹 “Life presents lots of opportunities. And the question is: are you interested, able, and ready to walk through those doors?”

🔹 “Of course I was skeptical.” “If you’re not skeptical, you’re not a scientist.”

🔹 Dr. Schubiner tells us about his training with Dr. John Sarno.

🔹 He describes the early and burgeoning research on mindbody modalities, much of which he pioneered.

🔹 We explore why so many physicians misunderstand this work.

🔹 We wade into the waters of the “controversial” and highly emotionally-laden diagnoses like long covid.

🔹 “It’s not fun being accused of gaslighting someone.”

🔹 A friend asked Howard, “How are you feeling about your new book?” And Howard said, in honesty, “I’m really excited, but I’m also scared.”

🔹 “I’m scared about what people will think and ‘the haters’ and the backlash. Because I really put it all out there.”

🔹 Howard says, of the controversy, “I love the people who hate me. They care passionately. They want a better world. They want a world where suffering is improved.”

🔹 He also describes various parts of his new book, which, if you haven’t read it, will be exciting to learn about.

Howard tells us: “Life is for learning,” we talk about Broadway musicals, we talk about “what if I die right before the book comes out?”, we go a little bit “off the rails”... This is a fun one. You’ll definitely want to join us. We’d love to have you.

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Find Howard:

Follow Howard on Instagram: @hschubiner

Read the Book: Unlearn Your Pain: The Science of Recovering from Chronic Pain, Fatigue, Anxiety, and Depression

Listen to the Podcast: The Science Behind the Symptoms with Howard Schubiner, MD and Rebecca Kennedy, MD

Howard’s Website: unlearnyourpain.com

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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Oprah Daily: The 5 Best Books for Chronic Pain, According to Experts

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

If you're enjoying the podcast, please follow for future episodes, rate, leave a written review, and share it with someone who needs it. Your endorsement helps more people like you find the profound power of mindbody healing.

Today: Listener Question and Answer!

Question:

“I’m 70 years old and have transcended many chronic pain symptoms (backache, migraines, urgency to pee, depression, and on and on). What is tripping me up today is the stiffness in my knees. I have osteoarthritis, but there is no pain. The tightness makes it hard to move around. Can someone my age overcome that? Can arthritis be a normal abnormality? I think because we learn arthritis is inevitable at my age is what’s tripping me up. I would love to hear an episode where you interview someone older who has overcome knee pain. I want my life back! Thanks.”

Answer:

🔹 A Definition of Arthritis and Osteoarthritis.

🔹 Most people with TMS think there’s something specifically and uniquely wrong with them. Having this thought does not mean it’s true.

🔹 Arthritis and Osteoarthritis do not need to cause chronic pain or chronic symptoms.

🔹 A reference to a 2019 study that found a high occurrence of arthritis in pain-free areas of the body.

🔹 A little bit about my own experience with knee stiffness, knee pain, and knee braces.

🔹 A suggestion to see a TMS/Neuroplastic-Informed medical provider for additional personalized diagnostic clarity:

🔹 Daniel Cogan, NP | New York, NY

🔹 Becca Kennedy, MD | Portland, OR

🔹 John Stracks, MD | Chicago, IL

If you’re asking “Is my symptom TMS?”, then this is a great episode for you.

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Find Sean:

Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com

Click Here to Ask Sean a Question

Sean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every Week

Sean’s Instagram: @mindbodymedicineforchronicpain

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Learn About Therapy with Sean: Therapy for Chronic Pain and Symptoms

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…and you’re listening to Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain.

Therapist Sean Hershey, LCSW teaches you how to use psychological and emotional modalities to heal from chronic pain. Common conditions treated: Back Pain, Neck Pain, Hip Pain, Shoulder Pain, Knee Pain, Elbow Pain, Pain from Disc Bulges, Pain from Disc Degeneration, Sciatica, Neuropathy, Chronic Headaches, Migraine, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Pelvic Pain, Fibromyalgia, Many Eczema and Skin Conditions, Many Arthritic Presentations, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Long Covid, Depression, and Anxiety.

Inspired by the pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno and all who’ve built upon his theories including: Nicole Sachs, Christina Sarno Horner, Dr. Howard Schubiner, Dr. Dan Ratner, Alan Gordon, the ATNS, and so many others.

Join us as we discuss: TMS, pain as a danger signal, the pain/threat cycle, healing through psychological work, healing through emotional work, healing through patiently attuning to your true self, trauma, healing as a work in progress, maddening frustration, glimmers of hope, elating successes... But most of all, join us because you don’t have to be alone in your pain. You don’t have to be alone in the hard work of healing. And you don’t have to be alone as this starts to work for you, and you begin to get better.

We’re all walking this path together. We’re right here with you.

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