The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain

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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. Learn how repressed emotions contribute to chronic pain and how to treat it without medical, physical interventions, or surgery. Have you listened to any of Brian Holsopple’s other performances before? How does this one compare? I think the reason this book is so highly rated is because once you explore the possibility that your pain is not the cause of any structural issue, but rather your mind, you achieve a sense of freedom, relief, and control.

Once people are able to identify the psychological factors that are causing their pain, they can begin to retrain their minds and eliminate the pain. Emphasis on self-empowerment This book provides a comprehensive overview of Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS) and its symptoms, as well as exercises and techniques to help people identify and manage their emotional stressors. Okay, you've got to understand: I'm no fan of "woo" or new-agey alternative medicine, and this book is not that. I'm a diehard empiricist. Even so, what I'm going to tell you might sound weird. 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! The central thesis of “The Mindbody Prescription” is that chronic pain is often caused by psychological factors, such as repressed anger or anxiety.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. According to Dr. Sarno, the brain uses pain as a distraction from these emotions, thereby creating a physical manifestation of an emotional problem. The invocation of psychoanalytical theory is either too much or too little. It's there for a good reason--to help assuage the doubts of more analytical readers, giving a scientific basis to psychological side of the book. For my taste, it didn't delve far enough--it just let me with a lot more questions. Perfectionists unconsciously set up standards for themselves they cannot possibly meet; their inevitable failure to live up to them results in unconscious shame and rage. It is my impression that ‘pain-killing’ drugs improve the patient’s mood rather than take away the pain.

Although Sarno has impressive expertise and clinical experience, he does not have the extensive hands-on experience that I have as a former massage therapist. I personally don't have much in the way of physical pain, but reading this book highlighted just how much my depression - which I've suffered with, at times very severely, for 25 years - was the result of deeply oppressed aspects of my total self. As such, I think the principles behind this book apply equally to the current epidemic of mental health problems - particularly anxiety and depression - as it did to the 1990s epidemic of various types of physical pain syndromes that Dr. Sarno focusses on mostly in this book. Dr. Sarno reveals that chronic pain is often caused by oxygen deprivation in the affected area. He says this deprivation is often caused by tension and constriction in the muscles, which can be triggered by emotional stressors.Another interesting anecdote in this book is the story of Rachel, a patient who suffered from chronic headaches for many years. Despite undergoing numerous medical treatments, including medication and physical therapy, Rachel’s pain persisted. The solution is simply to become aware of the totality of self. That is, to expand the focus of consciousness to include not only the tyrannical 'upper class', but the whole of society. Once consciousness sees that its goal is to include all elements of the self, allow each one expression, and so find cooperation and harmony between them, then no aspect of the self is a 'problem' anymore. There is no upper class and lower class, just different aspects of society, each with its contribution. That would be a healthy society, and the equivalent with respect to the psyche would be a healthy individual. Also, perfectionism and goodism might not always be related to low self-regard; it might just be a learned behavior from children with good self regard but over-achieving parents. The hidden feeling is mainly interpreted as anger. Anger is a very testosteronic emotion. Women have testosterone too, just as anger, but I do not believe all the repressed feelings we have are linked to anger. He says loosing someone you love and depend on causes anger; well, for me it causes fear and sadness. Personally I have experienced a lot of traumatic events, and have been into psychotherapy for many years ( my uncle studied with Jung ).

After all, patients don't come into their office with an emotional complaint, but a physical one; doctors do the best they can with the knowledge they have. When doctors sense a strong emotional state, they usually refer the patient to a psychologist- they pass it on. That can be frustrating for them, and even more to the patient, who feels his symptoms are not being taken seriously. 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. Also, I believe that Sarno plays too fast and loose with some of his facts, conspicuously ignoring some evidence which undermines his position, and sometimes making too much of evidence that supports it. And many of his citations are of dubious quality. The Mindbody Prescription” offers readers a new approach to pain management that emphasizes the mind-body connection and the role of psychological factors in chronic pain.

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'm currently trying to solve an RSI issue. I had previously read It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals. Funnily enough, that book mentions Dr. Sarno's The Mindbody Prescription, but dismisses it because the authors take offense at the idea that it might be all in your head. And then I read a blog article in which the author took issue with It's Not Carpal Tunnel because the authors claim that RSI is a lifelong problem that can only be managed. The blogger said that he hasn't had a problem with RSI since reading The Mindbody Prescription. That I have the power to heal myself. That emotions, though intrinsic to living, important and necessary, if they are out of balance can be very toxic. The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain” by Dr. John Sarno is a pioneering book that challenges traditional medical thinking surrounding the treatment of chronic pain. A Skeptical Look at the Theories of Dr. John Sarno,” Todd Hargrove, BetterMovement.org. Superb and clearly written account of some of the main problems with Sarno’s work.