Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain

I just got back from Dallas, TX. I was also recently in Chicago, and then Philly, and then Upstate NY… I’ve been busy, overwhelmed, doing too much… and I’m kind of at the end of my rope. Today’s podcast is a tired person’s slightly sloppy mishmash of topics. But everything centers around the theme: it’s okay to be in a bad mood. It’s okay to have bad days. We all do. You’re not alone. I’m there too.

In this Episode:

🔹 We unpack my experience at the ATNS conference in Dallas!

🔹 We discuss all the travel and general overwhelm I’ve put myself through lately.

🔹 We get to the reality that I’m currently tired and in a bad mood.

🔹 What does a pain flare feel like when you’re “so done”? We talk about it today.

🔹 And… counterintuitively, allowing yourself to be in a bad mood will likely put you in a better mood.

🔹 Faking a good mood is not the answer.

🔹 Being fake is hard work. Being real is a relief.

Join us on today’s podcast for some processing, some ATNS highlights, and some real talk about healing.

–

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

–

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

–

Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Association for the Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS)

Vanessa Blackstone

Raelan Agle

Dr. Becca Kennedy

Ted Howard

Grace Secker & Callie Krajcir

Ellen Ronka: How To Handle Shame Pt 1, How To Handle Shame Pt 2

Jeni Quigg & Simone Holderbach

Danielle Porto

Rachel Mooers & Lauren Garchow

How To Journalspeak With Nicole Sachs

–

…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 groundbreaking 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, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), 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. And you don’t have to be alone in your journey toward healing. 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.

Daniel Cogan is the go-to diagnostician for neuroplastic conditions in New York City. Today, he sits down to talk with us.

In this Episode:

🔹 The journey that brought Daniel to neuroplasticity, the missing piece in his medical practice.

🔹 Daniel went into the Pain Reprocessing Therapy training very skeptically. Then, the results with his first PRT patient were so profound that he cried.

🔹 Daniel walks us through the framework for making a neuroplastic diagnosis: 1) rule out other conditions, 2) rule in a neuroplastic condition using the FIT criteria (Functional, Inconsistent, and Triggered by innocuous stimuli).

🔹 Daniel tells us about how he deals with his patients’ doubt, and also about the occasions where patients believe they have TMS when they actually have something structurally wrong.

🔹 Daniel discusses his other specialty, medical aid in dying. Medical aid in dying became legal in New York State in August of 2026, so this is brand new and Daniel’s clinic is actually at the forefront. It’s a very interesting discussion, and you can read all about Daniel’s clinic, Quiětus, in an NY Times profile. Daniel connects this work to neuroplastic concerns and discusses the occurrence of patients requesting medical aid in dying for TMS presentations.

This is an interesting, deep, and expansive conversation with a true expert. You’re very welcome to join us.

–

Find Daniel:

If you’re asking the question “is my symptom neuroplastic?” Daniel Cogan, NP is your resource:

Daniel’s Website: npdanielcogan.com

Daniel’s Medical Aid in Dying Practice: Quiětus

–

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

–

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

–

…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 groundbreaking 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, Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), Emotional Awareness and Expression Therapy (EAET), 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. And you don’t have to be alone in your journey toward healing. 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 going back to the beginning. Knowledge is the base for your healing. The psychological work: understanding, internalizing, and believing the correct facts about chronic pain. And it’s so easy to doubt. A part of you is asking: What if I’m wrong? What if I’m following bad advice? What if I’m “drinking the Kool-Aid”?

In this Episode:

🔹 We’re facing your doubts head-on.

🔹 A part of you thinks mindbody healing is crazy. A part of you thinks this is a scam.

🔹 Mindbody healing is very different from the mainstream medical model.

🔹 How do you know that I’m giving you the “correct” facts about pain?

🔹 Today, we’re addressing your question – maybe for the first time, or maybe for the thousandth time – will this work for me?

🔹 Can you trust this? Can you trust me? Can you trust yourself?

🔹 Or are you drinking the Kool-Aid?

🔹 We get into the whole story behind “drinking the Kool-Aid,” we discuss the reasons why you can’t trust everyone, scammers are real, people do bad things, people lead others in bad directions… and we discuss the key question: when it comes to healing chronic pain, who is REALLY drinking the Kool-Aid?

This is a long one, but it’s a good one. Especially if you find yourself doubting this process. Join us. You’re not alone with your doubts. They’re welcome here. We’ll talk it out, and we’ll see what you think.

–

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

–

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

–

Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Vanessa Blackstone, MSW’s Instagram: @that.therapist

New York State Office of the Professions License Verification: Sean Hershey, LCSW

Book: Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment is Killing America’s Heartland

–

…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.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE

–

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.

–

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

–

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

–

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

–

Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jonty Hikmet: The Missing Piece in Allowing

S1 E10 | The Emotional Work: Beyond Journaling

Liz Wallenstein, LMHC

–

…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.

–

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

–

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

–

Other Resources Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

S1 E2 | What is TMS?

The Cure for Chronic Pain Podcast with Nicole Sachs, LCSW

–

…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.

–

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

–

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

–

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

–

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

–

…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.

–

Find Tate:

Tate’s Website: pays2progress.com

Tate’s Instagram: @pays2progress_

–

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

–

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?

–

…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.

–

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

–

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

–

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

–

…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.

–

Find Kristina:

Kristina’s Website: kristinaarmenakis.com

–

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

–

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

–

…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.

–

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

–

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

–

…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.