Mindbody Medicine for Chronic Pain

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.comDamien’s Email: [email protected]’s Instagram: @reillyrecoveryDamien’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/damien-reilly-99596a12a–Find Sean:Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.comClick Here to Ask Sean a QuestionSean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every WeekSean’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, LMHCS6 E5 | The Highly Sensitive Person and Chronic Pain with Kayla Jacobsen, LICSWThe 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.comTate’s Instagram: @pays2progress_–Find Sean:Sean’s Website: mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.comClick Here to Ask Sean a QuestionSean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every WeekSean’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 SarnoThey Can’t Find Anything Wrong by Dr. David ClarkeS6 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.comClick Here to Ask Sean a QuestionSean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every WeekSean’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 SachsHealing Back Pain by Dr. John SarnoHow To Journalspeak with Nicole SachsLike 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.comClick Here to Ask Sean a QuestionSean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every WeekSean’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.comClick Here to Ask Sean a QuestionSean’s Free Email List: Free Mindbody Advice and Reminders – From Me to You, Every WeekSean’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.