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Conquering Chronic Pain, Melbourne (2025)

16/05/2025

Assuming you have determined that you are okay physically (through TMS education), I believe that the emotional component of recovery can be encapsulated by these two goals.

I was reflecting on what had really changed for me from when I was in pain to now fully recovered. I’m certainly not healthier or stronger than I was, and there have been no major life events across that timeline. The main change, which has made all the difference, is what goes on inside my mind and how that impacts how I show up in the world on a daily basis.

Most of us, and TMS sufferers in particular, are terrified of being seen for what we are. We cultivate an image, through our people-pleasing and perfectionism (amongst other tactics), so that people see what we want them to see. By doing so, we put our brains in a state of constant alert and fear, as we need to consistently be on guard to prevent aspects that we are ashamed of coming to light.

Additionally, our inner critic reinforces this shame in order to keep us safe from how we believe we are perceived for our ‘undesirable’ qualities. Ironically, this is exactly the same function that our pain is performing. It will continue to protect us until we dispel the threat.

Using an example, we may refrain from sharing our sadness with others for fear of being a burden (which is really just fear of disapproval/being seen in a certain light by the other person). The inner voice will go on the attack in order to discourage us from being exposed to the threat. It may say “that person has their own problems so they won’t care about yours” or it may push you to “get over it” and resolve your emotions on your own. If, however, we choose to face that fear (by deciding that authenticity is more important than judgment), the inner critic can be overridden in favour of taking the risk. Conversely, altering our self-talk and questioning its motive can put us in a better state to face these fears in the moment.

This all leads back to the key question: “what is the pain trying to protect me from emotionally?” 🧐

22/04/2025

I know this may come across as counter-intuitive, but hear me out 😊

As I’ve discussed, it is rare to find a TMS sufferer who is not some form of a perfectionist. We strive to tick all of the boxes in recovery and find the perfect formula, yet that energy and self-pressure was likely a big contributor to the origin of our chronic symptoms in the first place.

Ironically, it was once I decided that I didn’t need to be “perfect” in my recovery and that my mindset was more important than the specific strategies/tools themselves, that I started to make more progress.

But why?

To me, all of the strategies/tools employed in TMS recovery are attempting to largely achieve one (or more) of the following:

- Uncover the truth of and entrench the belief that a structural issue isn’t the cause of the pain, but rather it is psychologically driven. It follows that TMS pain is simply a signal of nervous system dysregulation, and is otherwise harmless to the body.

- Become more accepting of one’s own emotions as valid and deserving to be heard, which results in freer expression and less emotional suppression.

- Build self-compassion and acceptance of who one is as a person, which releases shame and enables greater authenticity.

All of these objectives are aimed at reducing fear (whether that be of the pain, your emotions or certain triggers) and regulating the nervous system.

If you approach any strategy/tool with a mindset that is contradicts its purpose, then it is not going to be very effective.

As an example, journalling is a great way to understand and validate your emotions and past experiences, which in turn can release shame and cultivate greater self-compassion. If, however, you are consistently shaming yourself for not journalling every day, which usually stems from the false belief that you must be perfect in order to recover, then you are just replacing any released shame with more shame. The very benefit sought from journalling is compromised.

I understand the eagerness and often desperation to heal, although remember that mindset is key given the psychological roots of TMS. No amount of practical tools/strategies will work without the proper one 🧠

27/03/2025

The more people I work with, the less I believe in coincidences when it comes to this work. Despite what it may seem, neuroplastic pain always happens for a reason 💡

Assuming the presence of TMS, the root causes of the pain are emotional in nature and NOT physical/structural.

The question then becomes “what are these emotional factors/triggers and what can be done about them?”

As I have attempted to illustrate through the examples in the slides, I strongly believe that the pain often amplifies a specific problem which is a driving force for the pain arising in the first place. The first part of each example is a potential origin for the pain itself, and the second part details how pain magnifies the issue. The pain in a way invites us (harshly) to address these emotional concerns in order to heal. In other words, the brain wants to be regulated and is trying to point us in the right direction 👉

Focusing on the last slide for example, perfectionism and self-imposed pressure are main drivers of burnout and nervous system dysregulation. The brain may fire the pain alarm here in an attempt to slow us down and promote self-care. Fittingly and logically, trying to be perfect in recovery often makes the pain worse and more enduring.

As Albert Einstein is credited to have said “We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them”.

Do the examples resonate with you and can you see the lessons which your pain may be attempting to convey? Please let me know 😊. Remember that neuroplastic pain is a symptom; the root emotional causes, whether they be perfectionism, lack of self-trust or overall shame, must be addressed with self-compassion and love ❤️

If you would like to work through your emotional root causes of pain so as to heal, please DM me to start with a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss your individual circumstances 💪

20/03/2025

When this plays out, our emotions are suppressed, which often leads to our body expressing them as physical symptoms 🚨

⬇ Where does this pattern come from?

There are many reasons, although I believe at a core it is because we have been shamed into believing that our needs are less important, and in turn that our own internal validation is inadequate compared to external sources. There is a lack of self-esteem that underpins and comes with constantly prioritising others.

⬇ What can be done and what are the barriers to change?

I believe that we need to reframe some beliefs that support this tendency.

➡ 1. What is selfless?

People-pleasing can appear generous and altruistic, although I would argue that putting your own needs first is most selfless.

The analogy of putting your own oxygen mask on before helping others rings true here. People who nourish themselves are happier, kinder and more able to genuinely support others. Whilst you may feel as if you are nobly sacrificing yourself for your children, family, friends etc, the truth is that as a human being you won’t be as much of a positive influence if you haven’t first tended to yourself.

➡ 2. I will feel selfish and/or arrogant

Related to the shame I discussed above, people-pleasers are often made to believe that it would be selfish to ever prioritise their own needs.

The truth is though that true people-pleasers are that far to one end of the spectrum that what they perceive as “selfish” is likely a healthy balance of their needs vs. others’ needs. It is highly unlikely that you will go too far the other way, and you still remain an inherently generous and caring person despite any shift.

Note: I have created a hand-written chart for this idea, but I cannot post it due to formatting. Please comment if you would like it sent to you.

I completely understand that making such a change may feel uncomfortable and maybe even like a betrayal of people closest to you. I encourage you to sit in the feeling of selfishness whilst reminding yourself of the above reframes/truths. This change will ultimately benefit everyone around you!

Remember that you are worthy of your needs, emotions and self-love! ❤️

17/03/2025

EMOTIONAL ASPECTS INTRODUCTION:

To begin my discussion around the more emotional aspects of TMS, I wanted to talk about how shame often underpins the environment which produces neuroplastic symptoms.

It’s no coincidence that a very high proportion of TMS sufferers self-identify as either perfectionists or people pleasers (or both like me 🙋‍♂️). Both patterns live off the intrinsic belief of not being good enough and then having to go above and beyond to prove otherwise. This level of pressure and self-criticism dysregulates the nervous system and contributes to symptoms.

Additionally, emotional suppression and repression are often rooted in shame. When someone doesn’t feel permission to fully be themselves, they usually hide their true feelings and opinions to be who they think others want them to be. This can create plenty of internalised rage, which if not expressed in other ways is forced out in the form of physical symptoms.

Finally, shame can underpin the relationship between the TMS sufferer and their own pain. Many falsely blame themselves for their symptoms when they’ve been bereft of the TMS knowledge required to recover. Seeing recovery as “making up for my own mistakes” only leads to more guilt and pressure, which is the opposite of what is required to heal. You should not blame yourself for your symptoms, but rather be responsible for your recovery 💪

So, what is the answer? Self-compassion and love are the antidote to shame, in that they dictate that you are indeed enough and are entitled to your feelings and emotions 🤗

Whilst the above briefly covers a range of TMS theories, I will expand upon them individually as well as the relevant strategies in subsequent posts. One thing seems evident, though, that shame is a big barrier to recovery on multiple fronts.

Please DM me for more information and to book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss your individual circumstances ✨

10/03/2025

Should be a great chat! Feel free to tune in and ask questions :)

27/02/2025

The one caveat to this and one piece of evidence you absolutely NEED is that you’ve been checked and cleared of any major health issues by a doctor.

I want this post to be empowering rather than be seen to place pressure on you. I am a great believer in an individual’s intuition, especially when it comes to their own bodies.

Having said that, I also don’t want you to become stuck searching for evidence forever, waiting for the perfect piece before you decide to fully commit to the TMS healing process. Whilst it is perfectly okay for different people to require different levels of assurance (and in turn, evidence), it is ultimately your decision as to how much is enough.

I came to this crossroads in my own journey, and I wanted to illustrate what evidence I had collected, but also what potential evidence of TMS was missing (I have worded it so that YES indicates support of TMS and vice versa, the list is also non-exhaustive):

- The pain correlated with my stress levels? – YES, I had strong evidence of this.

- Were my MRI/scans clear? – YES, nothing was showing (a positive scan doesn't preclude TMS).

- The pain was on both sides of my body? – NO, it was only on my right side.

- The pain moved around? – NO, it was very localised in a specific part of my pelvis.

- The pain reduced or went away when I was distracted? – YES, especially when I had acute sensations in another body part, my brain switched its focus.

- Was physical therapy unsuccessful? – YES, I did some form of physical therapy for 5 years with only temporary relief.

The point is that I could have very easily focused on the two NOs above, and retained my doubt that my pain was TMS by hyper-focusing on the fact that my pain was localised, especially given this was the location of my original injury. However, I had enough countering evidence to decide that my pain was neuroplastic.

By all means collect as much evidence as you need (and continue to do so even after you’re convinced to help entrench the belief), but please don’t feel as if every box needs to be ticked. Evidence is simply a tool (noting the doctor exception above) to foster what truly matters when it comes to healing: your belief!

17/02/2025

I wanted to use this prompt to continue discussing conditioned responses, specifically those that are triggered by emotional stimuli which aren’t related to a physical action or exercise.

Before my brain learnt the neural pain pathways which kept me stuck in chronic pain, I would get mild IBS and headaches prior to some social events. This was my brain’s way of alerting me to the danger and also making me question whether it was worth attending. Despite these, I would often still attend or at least they weren’t the determining factor.

Once my brain learnt my chronic pain, however, it had found the perfect weapon! It knew that I would barely go anywhere once the pain was ramped up, so it was the best strategy to avoid my social fears. Who needs IBS and headaches when you have neuroplastic pain?

Based on this understanding and following on from my previous post, I would recommend the following to address these types of conditioned responses. Note that, as discussed in my last post, it is still important to believe you are not physically damaged with these conditioned responses as it impacts anticipation and reaction around pain.

1. Try to live life as much as possible despite the pain

Whilst I understand that pain can be very restrictive, trying not to let it dictate your every move is important in reducing its power. This shows the brain that neuroplastic pain isn’t an effective tool for protecting you against other fears, making it less likely to be utilised.

2. Address the root cause of your emotional triggers

Strategy 1. above may be effective in addressing pain, but if what your brain is trying to protect you from (in my example social anxiety) isn’t addressed then this will likely just be replaced by another symptom. I will discuss addressing the emotional aspects of TMS more in my future posts 🙌

Please DM me for more information and to book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss your individual circumstances 💪

15/02/2025

Neuroplastic pain can become a conditioned response to certain situations and actions, but why?

Put simply, because the brain (largely unconsciously) interprets the situation or action as dangerous! This is either due to fear of or belief in physical damage, or some other associated emotional threat which the brain is trying to protect you from.

As an example of the former, my conditioned responses associated with fear of structural damage included pelvic pain from sitting and from going to the toilet. It was a vicious cycle as these patterns were re-confirming my belief or at least suspicion that there was a physical issue. This also led me to anticipate the pain prior to and search for the pain both during and after these events, which strengthened the conditioning.

So, what can be done?

The only way I got my brain to view these activities as safe once again was to solidify my belief that my body was fine. I did this through affirming my evidence list (as discussed in previous posts).

Note: I appreciate that this belief may be difficult to foster as such conditioned responses can mask as evidence of a structural problem. I was so certain that my sitting pain indicated a structural issue for example, as surely the pressure of the seat on the pain region was causing the flare! It was just conditioning resulting from fear, however, and needs to be countered with strong evidence (that will be there if it is truly TMS) that the body is actually ok and not causing the pain.

Sitting and going to the toilet are not inherently dangerous, so once I was sure nothing was wrong physically, my brain had no need to keep sending pain in response. My fear lowered around the activities, I started to anticipate and react less to any pain and over time the conditioning unravelled. I can now sit for hours on any surface with no pain. Remember that, despite how it may seem, the brain never sends pain for no reason.

Keep affirming that your body is ok, consistency over time to entrench the belief is key! 🙌

I will continue my discussion on conditioned responses in my next post, including those which are caused by other emotional threats beyond the fear of a body problem.

02/02/2025

I want to preface this by saying that I have heard limited instances where people have healed through doing as much intense physical activity as possible and in a sense beating their pain into submission.

If that works for you, then great. From what I’ve mostly seen, however, coupled with my own personal experience, it is a balancing act (as are most things in life) between not doing enough and doing too much.

Both of these extremes have fear as their driver. We do too little because we are scared it will hurt and/or scared there is something physically wrong with us, yet we often do too much from a place of desperation, thinking that if we push through and try to ignore the pain then it will be defeated and go away.

Our bodies aren’t sending us pain for no reason, however, and we need to respect that fact and acknowledge its message (which is often tied to our emotional situation). If we continue to ignore it, the body will often ramp up the pain to force us to pay attention.

So, what is the answer and what about graded exposure?

I like the concept of graded exposure, although I would advise caution for two reasons. Firstly, neuroplastic pain is often driven by perfectionism, high standards and a lot of self-imposed pressure. Having to adhere to rigid rules of incrementation (i.e. 5 minutes today, 10 minutes tomorrow etc.) might reinforce these patterns and therefore be counterproductive. Secondly, such incrementation is often how one recovers from a structural injury. If you aren’t totally on board with the idea that your pain is neuroplastic and aren’t sending the correct messages to your brain in this sense, then you could be inadvertently reinforcing the notion that you are structurally damaged.

As such, I prefer focusing on natural movement as well as getting back to physical activity which you love. If you have to stop at points because of the pain and build up the activity over time then that’s perfectly ok; graded exposure may be the end result, although it isn’t a rigid focus.

I will discuss my own experience with returning to physical activity that one has a personal affinity with and why I think this is so effective in my next post 😊.

29/01/2025

This prompt begins my discussion around the importance of intention behind actions as opposed to the actions themselves. It also touches on the idea of mixed messaging to the brain which I discussed in a previous post.

This might seem confrontational, and indeed it took me a long time in my journey to fully give up seeing physiotherapists/chiropractors/myotherapists, but it wasn’t until I did that my healing really ramped up.

The truth is that we go to these practitioners when there is something structurally wrong with us. This is logical and advisable as it aligns with their training. If, however, after reviewing the evidence and ruling out any major health issues, we are attempting to convince ourselves that our pain is neuroplastic, then attending these sessions can send mixed messages to the brain and likely represents our doubt in the mindbody diagnosis, “I will keep my appointments just in case my issues are physical”. In this case we need to eliminate this doubt so we can fully commit to the TMS process, otherwise the brain will refuse to believe we are really safe/not broken and won’t turn off the pain.

As Dr Sarno stated, physical therapy is likely to keep patients’ attention on their bodies and the physical, as opposed to the emotional roots of TMS.

The key question then, as with other physical exercises and modalities such as massage and stretching, is what is the intention behind the activity and does it align with the TMS/neuroplastic diagnosis?

One of the replies to this question may be “What if my physiotherapist is trained in mindbody healing and is addressing my pain as neuroplastic?” That’s fantastic, although I would still advise caution regarding the message you are sending to the brain. For example, is there still physical manipulation/massage during the session? Seeing a physiotherapist also by nature carries connotations of structural problems, so it would be preferable to instead call the practitioner something like your “mindbody/TMS practitioner”, to better reflect their assistance and role.

This may sound highly semantic, but the brain is stubborn in letting go of pain and the correct messaging/language to yourself is crucial!

26/01/2025

Following on from my previous post, what are we to make of actual findings on scan?

This situation encompasses the remaining two categories:

2. Finding of a structural issue on scan/MRI which directly correlates to the pain.

Such issues include fractures and tumours. It may also be the case that there has been a re-injury, or that the original injury has not healed (this is unlikely if the pain is truly chronic and has lasted for more than six months, although it may be a more serious injury which requires surgery). A doctor and/or physiotherapist should be consulted depending on the issue.

Note: That is not to say that mindbody work wouldn’t assist with pain levels here, indeed it would as all pain is amplified by fear and attention. The focus, however, should be on first treating and resolving the physical issue.

3. Scan/MRI finding which either doesn’t correlate with the pain and/or is a “normal abnormality”

As an example of the former, pain could be occurring in a position (such as on the opposite side of the body) which doesn’t make sense based on the structural finding. In terms of the latter, Dr Sarno coined the term “normal abnormality” to explain differences in our bodies, often associated with aging, that research suggests are likely not the cause of the relevant pain. These include disc degeneration and bulging discs.

In these cases, a false belief in a structural cause to the pain is likely one of the main drivers of the pain itself. Full commitment to the mindbody/TMS approach is the road to recovery in these instances.

Note: That is not to say that these “normal abnormalities” can’t sometimes be the source of the pain and therefore don’t instead fall within category 2 above. In the case of bulging discs for example, it can be a different story when the disc is directly pressing on a nerve. It is crucial to analyse the pain presentation to see if it aligns with the structural findings, ideally with a doctor/physician who is clued into TMS/the mindbody connection.

As seen in the previous example, whether someone falls into category 2 or 3 can sometimes be difficult to discern. In my opinion, as long as scans indicate that any initial injury has healed (excluding non-pain inducing normal abnormalities) and as a result a return to full physical activity is safe, then any remaining pain is likely neuroplastic and mindbody healing can be pursued full throttle.

It is important to appreciate overall though that scans, although valuable, are just one piece of evidence in the puzzle. They must be combined with other indicators to make an informed case for or against the presence of neuroplastic pain (an example of this was done above when comparing the scan itself to the presentation of the pain).

I will discuss these “other indicators” in more detail in a later post…

Please DM me for more information and to book a FREE 30-minute discovery call to discuss your individual circumstances 💪

Conquering Chronic Pain

16/05/2025

22/04/2025

27/03/2025

20/03/2025

17/03/2025

10/03/2025

27/02/2025

17/02/2025

15/02/2025

02/02/2025

29/01/2025

26/01/2025

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