The Cure for Chronic Pain with Nicole Sachs, LCSW

Betsy is a prime example of someone who could have gotten lost in the medical model of unnecessary surgery and medication with her diagnosis of Spondylolisthesis (like me!) We are similar in that we rejected those options, but were still in despair. Luckily for both of us, we discovered mindbody medicine. Betsy's a beautiful story of pain and healing, and serves as a powerful example of the way th...

My greatest fear is that people will misinterpret my work as they did Dr. Sarno's, and believe I am suggesting that the pain is in their heads, they are being hysterical, making it up, creating it, too dramatic, too sensitive, etc. This is the exact opposite of what I am saying, and today I thought I would dedicate the pod to making that clear, again. I'm sure I'll do it again and again. There is...

What a wonderful REAL TIME HEAL. Shannon is so lovely and well spoken, and bravely takes us through her journey thus far - starting at a young age with panic attacks, anxiety and phobias, and morphing into an eating disorder and more as she grew older. She also had the added stress of having to come out to her parents, and come to terms with the environment in which she was raised. This is all suc...

Whenever a post blows up on Instagram and my community says, "OMG I NEVER REALIZED THAT BEFORE!" I know it deserves a podcast ep. Today on the pod we discuss the bizarre (but so real) trauma response of not being able to enjoy the moment  - even when the moment is good! This is a very real phenomena that I have experienced many times. Through the work of waking up, I have transformed this response...

Heather has lived through a lot. She grew up in a family struggling with addiction, and found herself gaslit and confused at every turn. As she grew older, this trauma she suffered began to express itself through physical pain syndromes, namely chronic migraines (19 a month!) and shoulder pain - among other medical anomalies. Heather was in literal sustained fight or flight, and her body was keepi...

The community has called out, and I am listening! People want to hear more about TMS, the origins of this acronym, why it matters, and who the heck is Dr. Sarno. They also want to understand more precisely why "doing the [emotional] work" has anything to do with alleviating chronic issues. You asked, and I am answering! This episode may be a review for some, but I am a firm believer that review is...

Kurt was not a stranger to Dr. Sarno's work. He had used it successfully to eliminate back pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, and male pelvic issues. Yet, when he got a bad case of Long Covid, he wasn't aware that the same brain science was at work... until he heard my podcast with Like (episode 122). Her Long Haul Recovery story was so impactful that he was compelled to do the work toward his own...

Happy Podcast Day, Day After Thanksgiving, And Black Friday! And no matter what you feel about any of those things, I send you love. Today on the pod we are discussing the lifelong effects of being raised in an angry, rageful, chaotic environment, or however this translates to your experience (don't worry - we make room for everyone.) You have far more power than you realize to affect your emotion...

Dr. Hillary McBride has been talking embodiment for years, from both her experience overcoming an eating disorder and her clinical practice, and then her recovery from two major car accidents. The moment I heard about her work, I was awakened to something that I had forgotten was so important  - the way we inhabit our bodies. I speak about the mind/body connection day and night, but somehow I was...

Fear and phobias can punctuate our lives with reactions, blockages, and continued trauma. Today on the pod I discuss one of my own - my most terrifying - the fear of vomit and vomiting. Trigger warning - we will be discussing this issue, but not gratuitously. I won't be recounting gross details more than necessary. But if you don't feel comfortable with this conversation, maybe this episode isn't...

WELCOME BACK TO YOU, ME, ALL OF US! Yay, happy podcast day. I'm rejuvenated from my weeks off and ready to bring you more inspiring and helpful info, stories, and human connection. Today we have an incredible follow up story from a RTH that I did about a year ago with Angela. She has been on quite the ride, and has gone through many stages of healing. Her story is one of a badass warrior, walking...

Hello friends! As I get ready to bring the pod back, I am taking this opportunity to debut my friend and colleague Lisa Schlosberg's very brand new baby. Lisa has been inspiring people for years with her own work, and in the beautiful ways in which she carries the message of mine. I hope you enjoy this interview we did together! Nicole Sachs, LCSW shares her story and explains this work in the cle...

Wouldn't you know it! The moment I try to take a break from this podcast, we hit a milestone I can't ignore: TWO MILLION DOWNLOADS! So, I thought a great way to mark this occasion would be to reprise one the most effective episodes in explaining what we're doing here: the foundation of JournalSpeak and why it can help you. So, in that effort, I am replaying "Toxic Perfectionism" which does just th...

We all define burnout in our own ways. What I mean by this is that only you can know when you're really on the edge of losing your joy and energy for life. I have felt this edge lately. For this reason, I am deciding - finally - to practice a bit of self-care around my content creation. It has been nearly 3 years, and I have never missed a week of this podcast. In order to refill my cup and take t...

Jacqueline was always a "good girl" - putting pressure on herself to get straight A's, be thin and pretty, and always be the light for other people. When her debilitating back pain began in her 20's, she had no idea that those behaviors could possibility have anything to do with it. After two surgeries, and pain that kept moving around, Jacqueline found Dr. Sarno and my work, and her life has neve...

We all do it, and most of it is unconscious. We "seek" out relationships - friendships and love relationships - that mirror unresolved ones from childhood. Sometimes people treat us with neglect, abuse, shaming, gaslighting, judgement. Sometimes they are overidentified with us, enmeshed, codependent. Whatever we are used to (but also were hurt by) tends to be what we unconsciously seek in order to...

My interview with Mariel started out as a success story - because she is! Mariel was so debilitated with pain that she was actively contemplating ending her life, and now she is amazing with 80% of her severe pain gone. But as we continued with the conversation, it became clear that a RTH was in store, in order to give Mariel all the tools she needs to thrive for a lifetime. Pain, as you may recal...

We all feel so overwhelmed by the needs of others, and the way it feels to withstand their struggles - whether it be our children, or other significant people in our lives. But what if our suffering over their suffering is really about us, and the ways in which we've been hurt or traumatized? Today on the pod we discuss how our deepest struggles can seem like they are about the current moment, but...

Wow - Shelly had so many diagnoses I had to pick just a few to put on the title of this episode. She was also dealing with many heavy life stressors. In the end, Shelly is grateful for the pain, as she was brought to this work and it saved her life. Shelly's journey is so inspirational, and she brings great advice to anyone moving through this process of healing - most important of all... NEVER GI...

It is normal and natural to want help, support, love, kindness, and ease. The trouble arises when we want to be "rescued", often subconsciously, from the struggles of life. This can be a response to the trauma of not getting our needs met as children. Sometimes this is deliberate, and sometimes it is just because parents and caregivers have nothing left to give. Either way, it can leave us wanting...

Rachelle suffered immensely with the symptoms of dizziness and tinnitus. I hear from many people around the world about their struggles with these life-stopping symptoms, and Rachelle was no different. Her journey was a scary, painful, and frustrating one, but once she found this work it all turned around. Join us for an uplifting and insightful conversation about these challenging conditions, and...

Today is a bit of a mini-sode. I am about to leave for OMEGA and I didn't want to leave you without a pod this week. It's little, but it's mighty. Listen with your whole heart. The only thing that matters is: How do you feel today? XOXOXO all my love, n. GET 50% OFF ONE YEAR OF THE CURABLE APP: go to www.getcurable.com/nicole My new course FREEDOM FROM AN ANXIOUS LIFE, is available now. Click here...

Joe Tunon was my very first truth warrior. His YouTube videos have helped many thousands of people walk this path with confidence, and faith in the process. I'm so thrilled to share his story now with my podcast audience. Joe is an example of back pain so severe he needed to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance, unable to move. Yet, even at that moment, his pain was not dangerous to his body....

When grief hits, no matter how "prepared" you may be, it can feel like an attack to the Nervous System. For me, in these past few weeks following the Surfside, Miami building collapse and the loss of my dear friend Theresa and her parents, it certainly has felt this way. Today on the pod we talk about grief, and how to take care of yourself when you are overwhelmed. As Theresa's brother David said...

Ruthie's story typifies my strongest feeling about this work: Chronic pain is an epidemic of fear. Her foot pain, which started in one localized place, soon ballooned into pain in 11 places in her body. Fear begot fear, and Dr. Google only made it worse. Ruthie hopped from doctor to doctor, and hit all the support groups. As her journey would have it, she saw an ad for the Curable App and through...