Got Chronic Pain?

Learn the Hidden Power to Heal Ourselves

If you’ve got chronic pain, this article could change your life. It’s not that what I can tell you will change your life. It’s what I learned from medical professionals who go against the grain of the medical monster we call healthcare.

My direct experience is nothing short of a miracle to me. Click here to read my recent article, The Science of Spontaneous Healing. It’s about the transformation I experienced after a horrendous battle with lower back pain, surgery, psychological counseling, hypnotherapy, and physical therapy.

The bottom line is that within an hour of reading Healing Back Pain, The Mind-body-Connection by John E. Sarno, M.D., I began a mental and physical training regime that healed lower back and leg pain that drove me nuts for too long.

Back pain is a massive problem in our society, and the holistic approaches to healing ourselves are often hindered. There’s too much confusing and conflicting information for the average person to make sense of it all. For example, check out the M.D.'s spin in his Psychology Today article. Research how often the American Medical Association and other groups take legal action against “rogue healers.” It’s always been this way. Just remember how we were during the witch hunts and the cold war.

Nuts.

The only reason humans can’t heal themselves is what we believe and don’t.

Why We Are the Way We Are

The reasons for my psychological makeup and yours are complex. Suffice it to say that we all become products of our environment. We learn to become what our parents, teachers, preachers, coaches, family, friends, and culture condition, teach, and program us to be.

More than ninety percent of the human capacity to exist happens at an unconscious level. (Experts routinely use subconscious and unconscious synonymously.)

Most humans roaming the planet have zero clue about our entire Operating System works. It works through a deep and timeless connection between the brain and body.

We all repress and suppress the feelings and emotions that aren’t acceptable to our homes, classrooms, playgrounds, and church pews. You don’t need to be a professional shrink to know what it feels like to “lose your mind.”

Here’s a short list of what it looks like when the emotions buried deep within us choose to explode:

1. "Go off the deep end."

2. "Blow one's top."

3. "Lose one's marbles."

4. "Go bananas."

5. "Flip one's lid."

6. "Go bonkers."

7. "Lose one's wits."

8. "Go batty."

9. "Go cuckoo."

10. "Have a screw loose."

11. "Go nuts."

12. "Go round the bend."

13. "Lose one's bearings."

14. "Go haywire."

15. "Have a meltdown."

16. "Go postal."

17. "Go berserk."

18. "Lose one's cool."

19. "Go off one's rocker."

20. "Go loopy."

The bridge between the human brain and body is the mind. When all the head trash we ignore wants us to pay attention, the brain will start to train us by restricting oxygen flow to specific body parts.

The brain’s motivation is to protect us. The unconscious mind signals the brain to drain the flow of blood, oxygen, and other healing nutrients typically orchestrated by the Autonomic Nervous System or ANS.

The only reason I know any of this by heart is I’ve read hundreds of books to help me improve my mind and transform my body. I learned to put the hurt on chronic pain, and I believe you can, too, if you do three simple things most people won’t do:

1. Read the entire book at least once and take notes.

2. Follow the suggestions in the book.

3. Never stop believing in your ability to transform (heal) yourself.

Meet the Doctor Who Changed My Life

Dr. John E. Sarno was an American physician, professor, and pioneer in psychosomatic medicine. He was born in 1923 and passed away in 2017. He served as the Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at the New York University School of Medicine and attended patients at the Howard A. Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Dr. Sarno was famous for his controversial yet revolutionary approach to treating chronic pain, which he linked to emotional factors rather than purely physical causes. His treatment approach, often referred to as "tension myositis syndrome" (TMS) or "Sarno Method," argued that the mind can manifest unaddressed emotions, such as stress, anger, or anxiety, into physical pain.

His ideas were initially met with skepticism within the medical community but gained acceptance over time as countless people found relief through his methods. His work has impacted the fields of physical rehabilitation, pain management, and psychotherapy, creating a new perspective on the mind-body connection.

Book Summary - 'The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain.'

Dr. Sarno wrote four mind-blowing books. I own them all. They are keepers!

Subscribe to my work, and you’ll see book summaries for all his books. Here are his most well-known works, along with their respective publishing dates:

1. "Mind Over Back Pain" (1982) - This is Sarno's first book, where he introduced his theories about the causes and treatment of back pain.

2. "Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection" (1991) - Sarno expands on his theories and provides a more comprehensive insight into how repressed emotions lead to painful physical symptoms.

3. "The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain" (1998) - This book extends the principles from "Healing Back Pain" to a broader array of conditions.

4. "The Divided Mind: The Epidemic of Mindbody Disorders" (2006) - Sarno's final book presents a comprehensive overview of psychosomatic medicine, offering various testimonies from patients and therapists.

8 Simple Steps

Let’s look at Sarno’s book “The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain.” Dr. Sarno delves into his theory and treatment method for chronic pain. He explores the connection between the mind and body and how emotional issues can translate into physical pain.

The book's central premise is that many common chronic ailments, such as back pain, neck pain, and other musculoskeletal problems, are not always a result of physical issues but are often symptoms of a psychological condition called Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS). According to Sarno, TMS is a psychosomatic illness causing chronic pain and is rooted in unconscious emotions - primarily rage and anxiety.

Most people I’ve encountered on the matter stay stuck in my direct experience because of their closed mindset and unwillingness to do the work!

For example, our plumber and many men like him with severe back pain will seldom act on my suggestion to consider the potential of self-healing, read any of the books I suggest, let alone follow the steps in such a way that they can improve their minds and transform their bodies.

If you are willing to do the work, here are eight simple steps Dr. Sarno suggests in his book:

1. Discover knowledge therapy. Understand and accept the diagnosis of TMS. This is the first step towards recovery. Understanding that the physical pain you're experiencing manifests in repressed emotions is vital.

2. Reflection and introspection. Dr. Sarno refers to this as searching inside yourself. Journal your feelings, particularly those that are negative or stressful. Reflect on your daily experiences, personal history, personality traits, and external pressures that may contribute to your emotional state.

3. Process and release toxic emotions. Find safe and effective ways to express and release pent-up emotions such as the fear of failure, not being good enough, not okay, broken, impatient, bitter, resentful, prideful, angry, and rageful. This could be through therapy, meditation, physical activity, or artistic expression.

4. Repetition and reinforcement: You have to train your mind and body. Constantly remind yourself of the psychological basis for your pain. Repetition reinforces the idea and helps break the cycle of physical symptoms.

5. Resumption of all normal activity. Don't let fear of pain stop you from living normally. Continue your routine activities and resist any inclination to protect your 'weak' areas.

6. Psychotherapy: Engage in talk therapy to help unearth and address unconscious emotions. Talk therapy works, and it makes a massive difference when you are patient and accepting that you may have to work with several professionals before you get results.

7. Mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Incorporate mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, and other relaxation techniques into your daily routine. They can help reduce stress and anxiety and enable better emotional health management. Like yoga, mindful walking, art, and other activities allow us to process and release buried emotions, energy blocks, and pain.

8. Lifestyle changes: If you want to keep numbing the pain buried within, keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll get what you’ve got. If you don’t change, who will? Sure, you can hang out with your compassion turtle all you want. If you don’t develop a healthier lifestyle, focus on balanced nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and positive social interactions, you’ll feel like a stale donut most of the time, and you’re head trash will wreak havoc on your body.

Find Your Way

"Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without." - Buddha

In conclusion, the journey towards healing is complex, intricately interwoven with our minds, bodies, and the deeply rooted beliefs that reside in our subconscious. The remarkable connection between our brains and bodies can cause and cure chronic pain. Realizing this connection, as Dr. John E. Sarno passionately emphasized in his works, can be a lifeline for those plagued by relentless, unexplained pain.

Sarno's revolutionary approach shatters the misconception that chronic pain is solely a physical issue. It compels us to confront our emotional baggage, addressing the repressed rage and anxiety that could manifest as physical symptoms. Remember, this is a journey, not a destination. It demands patience, introspection, and steadfast commitment to one's well-being.

Harnessing the power of the human mind to heal is no small task. The steps are simple but not necessarily easy. They require introspection, commitment, and, most importantly, a belief in oneself. We all have the power to heal; we must only learn how to tap into it. Reading Dr. Sarno's work, practicing his suggested steps, and fostering an unshakable faith in your body's healing capacity can set you on a path toward freedom from chronic pain.

No matter how steep the journey, remember that you are not alone. Many others blazed this trail and found solace. As you embark on this expedition towards self-healing, always bear in mind that your pain is real, but so is the promise of relief.

As with any medical advice, always consult your healthcare provider before significantly changing your treatment regimen. Embrace the journey, remain steadfast despite obstacles, and believe in your inherent ability to heal. You might surprise yourself with what you can achieve.