The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

I am in my early 30's and my acupuncturist was puzzled as to why I was struggling with sciatica and nerve pain in my arms. She encouraged me to begin taking omega-3 and tumeric supplements, change my diet, take stretch breaks at work, etc. She finally had me get blood work done because she was so concerned that I had some potential health issue that I was unaware of. Well, the blood work proved that I was quite healthy and balanced. So, needless to say, she was still confused as to why I was continuing to have pain day in and day out.I finally found this book by accident on Amazon and found that it really works. I read it in about two days and just started journaling when I was angry since he discusses how our pain is linked to repressed anger that our subconscious wants to release. So, I just continued to do it...in the morning before going to work, during work when no one was around for a few minutes, when I got home after work, etc. I just became very aware of my thinking when I was in pain and I started to also not give my pain as much attention as I previously did since it was "a harmless condition" for the most part. Over time, along with doing some other things, I found that my pain started to diminish. I then started to notice that the minute I got really stressed, or my boss was acting like a total jerk, etc. I would all of a sudden be in a ton of pain. I then realized that Dr. Sarno had a point - it really is connected to what is going on in our lives and what we can and cannot control.I can't say that the pain 100% gone, but I can say that it has diminished greatly (perhaps by 90%) and gives me hope that I can actually heal myself if I put my mind to it. I am pain free almost daily which is so incredibly nice.Along with reading his book, I also did the following:- gave up gluten- gave up dairy (except for 1/8 cup of yogurt in daily veggie/fruit smoothie)- started to limit refined sugar (I am not perfect on this one, but working on it!)- started and continued to take omega 3, ginger root and tumeric supplements- used (and still use almost daily!) the Rumber Roller to help loosen my IT band so it doesn't pull on my hip- took Rhus Tox and Arnica homeopathic pellets- started taking glucosamine with chondroitin daily- became conscious of my computer set up and my computer use- started getting into EFT (emotional freedom technique) from youtube videosThanks Dr. Sarno!

If you have suffered from back or neck pain, then this book is a must read. Dr. Sarno has practiced at NYU for many years and has helped numerous patients overcome these physical ailments. The book is clearly written with many examples, which helps the reader to understand the principles and identify whether these apply to him/her. Dr. Sarno works with the concept TMS, tension myositis syndrome, which is used to explain how pain (or other sensory problems) can occur in various parts of the body for no clear (conscious) reasons. He reviews the details of TMS repeatedly throughout the book, again using many examples from actual patients.Dr. Sarno explains that many people experience relief of the pain through insight and coming to understand that their mind (brain) is responsible for the pain. Essentially, unconscious anger (and other emotions) create the physical response by decreasing blood flow and oxygen to the painful areas of the body. As the mind heals, so does the body. Dr. Sarno helps to heal the mind through this book by educating the reader about TMS and this process. Furthermore, he helps the reader understand that the pain is real (not imagined) and has an actual physical cause (i.e., reduction of oxygen) which is not dangerous or permanent. By reading the book, the mind's process for causing the pain is exposed and now rendered useless in distracting the patient from the underlying causes (i.e., anger). Therefore, the pain should decrease and stop altogether once this genuine insight is gained by the reader.In summary, Dr. Sarno's book is extremely helpful for those experiencing real day-to-day pain. He provides hope for those who have suffered from pain, in some cases for years, and he helps to end the pain where others have failed.

I’ve known for a very long time that my diagnosis of back pain would not fit into the mold of the standard model of the traditional diagnosis. Therefore, I never had an MRI or a Cat Scan or visited a specialist for my back pain. My primary doctor examined me while at my yearly physical and assured me that there is no need to see a specialist. I knew this but, his observations assured me of what I already knew.I knew any specialist would not be able to diagnose my pain and even if they did, it wouldn’t matter because …A.) – I would never have surgery even if they found something!and …B.) – The traditional recommendation of physical therapy grated on me. (This is the doctor’s favorite method of treating pain when they do not know what do to with you.)I work in a physical therapy practice and the work I do with patients on a day to day basis has shown me that it’s a mental/thinking process and I just could not buy into the idea that there was something terribly wrong with my back. (Please understand that although I work in the field, it does not necessarily mean that I believe in it.) There’s a story that goes with that but this is not the thread to hash that out.My entire existence in the last 6 years has enveloped some kind of healing modality. I have had some trauma (another story) and gradually, my back pain has escalated to the point that it consumes me.With that I must add that, today it’s back pain. 6 years ago, it was upper rib pain with a splash of clavicle pain. Along the way, I had an issue with my upper thigh … deep, reaching some tendon or muscle that hindered my ability to take a forward step. When I started working in the field of physical therapy, I began having issues with my feet to the point where it hurt to walk. Guess what I do all day as a physical therapy Tech? I walk and run all day long!I’ve soon realized that my pain jumps around. It never stays in the same place but up until the reading of this book, I have not been able to grasp why. Why would my pain travel from one place to another which rendered me suspicious of any kind of diagnosis?! Even if you told me, I would not buy into it. You could have told me it was MS or Fibromyalgia or some other disorder and it would not have mattered because deep down, I knew that something was going on in my body and somehow, I knew that I was okay. I could not explain it and even if I did, I was met with those who would cock their head sideways, like some confused puppy trying to understand what you just said; I knew there was another answer to all of my symptoms and questions.Even though I knew, it took this book to validate that for me. If this book gave me anything at all, it was the assurance that I am okay. It assured me that I am well, I am healthy and that I am normal … Hallelujah!!!I’ve always wondered how I could be in good health but I could not explain my pain. I eat well. I am active. I practice mindfulness and meditation. I can grasp living in the Now and I embrace each moment as some magical manifestation of this magnificent life. I’ve studied with the guru’s like Eckhart Tolle, Byron Katie, Alana Fairchild, Marianne Williamson as well as the voice of Abraham and countless others.I’ve read the bible! I’ve been to church. I’ve had faith, cast out demons and lived a life of a saint (no really! I’m very disciplined and perfect!) The book describes my traits very well, “Perfectionist, do gooder and low self-esteem.I’ve done it all and still, my pain woke up with me and laid me down to sleep, night after night/ day after day.I’ve surrendered to numerous kinds of therapy;ChiropracticAcupunctureMyofascial Corrective TherapyMassagePhysical TherapyLymphatic DrainageCranial Sacral TherapyNET – Neuro Emotional TechniqueEssential OilsCBD – CannabisI’m sure I’ve forgotten a few …I’ve even visited with a psychic, a Shaman and engaged in hypnosis.I feel like I’ve done it all. Yes, there were still other options, but none that I would consider or they were not presented to me at a time that I was willing because it didn’t make sense or I was fed up!I’ve journaled faithfully for the last 6 years. I truly love to write and journaling opened up a porthole of creativity that unleashed something within me that was able to break free and yet, I still had pain.There were days that I had a break from the pain and I could not tell you why. It was always a mystery to me that left me feeling frustrated. Why would today I feel better than yesterday? What did I do differently and … I could never come up with an answer!I got tired of talking to someone who might understand my pain because guess what?! NO ONE UNDERSTOOD MY PAIN!!! NO ONE!!!If this book gave me anything and everything it is this: My pain is an illusion. It is not real even though it feels that way! It can be healed! I do not have to buy into the mind game that my body is distracting me from identifying what my feelings are and where the pain is being directed to. I get that now.I’ve been set free!I am normal!There is nothing wrong!There is hope!I started journaling in an enhanced way. Instead of trying to write my inner musings down in a way that is pleasant to read; making sure that I corrected all of my spelling and my sentences were punctuated to reflect my true feelings, I started unleashing the beast. (Yes, even my journaling needed to be perfect. I never allowed myself to misspell a word or put punctuation in the wrong place.)How do I REALLY feel? I’ve gone back to my childhood and began a sentence, only to be brought to the present moment disgusted with the Universe! I am right … everyone else is wrong … and the sooner everyone acknowledges my saintly wisdom, the better this world will be! (Just a glimpse of one of my unleashings) I’ve been afraid to admit that to myself because “What would someone think of me?! I must be a bad person!”I discovered that I get sick and tired of the bull pucky that I see and read about every day. I had a 20 minute journaling session where something broke loose and when I was finished letting it out, I went about my day. The lovely thing is, my pain has been subsided today. I let something out this morning and the rest of my day, the pain started to dissolve.The next day, I awoke in pain however, I knew that I was on to something helpful and I’ve wanted to keep exploring it. Perhaps that is the fuel that keeps us doing the work that this book suggests. It’s going to be a daily practice. It’s going to require me to take the time to scavenge, dig and unleash and I’ve discovered that the only way that is going to happen is if I begin with my first thought/sentence and let it take me from there. I’m too tired to worry about ugly emotions or feelings. I have reached a place of desperation and I’m now willing to bring my ghosts out of the closet.No more pretty sentences. No more orchestrated thoughts brought together to form a pleasing and meaningful sentence. No more telling myself it’s going to be okay and then shoving my true feelings down because it may come out and what will people think of me then?This is gut work! This is mining! This is getting dirty and taking off the controlled chains that keep me tidy, organized and presentable.Yes, this book opened up a porthole and I’ve finally been validated. I’m not sure why it took 6 years to find this work but I can honestly tell you that I’m ready. I am ready to face my fears about my true feelings and set them free. If you’re ready and fed up with not getting any answers about your pain or you have exhausted all other means of getting answers and you’re still left feeling you have not been heard, then I recommend you get the book and see what opens up for you.