This is something I heard frequently throughout my twenties, a phrase that made me believe my body was fundamentally broken. I’ve dealt with chronic pain in my back and hips since I was twenty one, believing it derived from an injury that never healed.
No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find any answers to alleviate the pain through physical means — physical therapy, acupuncture, chiropractors, amongst other methods. It makes sense, right? I had physical pain, so there had to be a physical cure. But no. That’s what had me and countless individuals stuck, frustrated with no answers.
If you met me, you probably wouldn’t guess I was hurting. I was still fit, doing whatever I could to exercise through the pain. I traveled, had amazing adventures with friends, laughed a lot, and as I’ve been told, always seemed happy. It wasn’t fake. I’s who I am, a joyful person in love with life. But underneath I was suppressing shame and anger that my body was broken, exacerbating my genuine fear that there was nothing I could do about it besides accept that it would only get worse as I got older.
If this was my lot in life, so be it. I wouldn’t let it break me. I wouldn’t become resentful. I wouldn’t give in. But in early 2024, I hit an all-time low. Right as I was moving From Osaka to Tokyo, I had several flare-ups one after the other, barely able to stand up straight or sit in a chair without searing pain for about a month. I was fucking done. I couldn’t do it anymore. Something had to change.
When I surrendered and asked for help, a miracle came. By a heartfelt sequence of fateful events, I gained a new mentor who introduced me to the world of mindbody healing, as she was proof that one could heal from chronic pain using an emotional approach rather than a physical one.
I embarked upon a spiritual odyssey by taking an emotional approach to the pain, embracing what’s called TMS (The Mindbody Syndrome). To overcome what for so long felt insurmountable, I’d have to focus on healing my nervous system, not my back. Since making that decision, my life has been forever changed.
It’s been emotional. I’ve gone through a lot with all this shit. But I wouldn’t trade what I’ve endured for anything. Pain is part of life, necessary to make us all that we can be. I had to experience those years of pain, as they made me a better writer, a more empathetic and humble human being, a fighter. But I’m done fighting. I surrender. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, I’d love to discuss with you what this means. Reach out through the link below to set up a time to talk.
On this call expect to:
- Discuss my seven-year history with chronic pain, and how I transitioned from trying to heal physically, to emotionally
- Learn about TMS (The Mindbody Syndrome) and how it is totally possible to heal from chronic pain!
- Explore your mind-body connection and how the pain might be related to your emotions, specifically fear, guilt, shame, anxiety; your personality type; and your personal history
- Take the first steps to unlearn your pain and rewire your brain
- Build a personalized plan / discuss next steps for how we can work together to get you where you want to be
*Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a licensed therapist. It took me seven years of struggling to finally find an answer to heal chronic pain, one that has nothing to do with fixing my body. What I’m sharing comes from my own personal experience, and the hours and hours of research I’ve done on this topic. I just want to share what I’ve learned from this incredible journey, in the hopes that you, too, can heal your life.
You can find links below to learn from the individuals who have helped me tremendously.
Healing Back Pain: The Mind-body Connection, by Dr. John Sarno
Dr. John Sarno Lecture on The Mindbody Syndrome
Back Pain 10 Myths and 10 Facts video, The Pain PT
The Great Pain Deception, by Steven Ozanich
Unlearn Your Pain, by Dr. Howard Schubiner
Howard Schubiner: Breakthrough With Healing Chronic Pain lecture
Michael Singer, Mastering the Art of Always Being Okay lecture